Ilocos Norte declared in ‘state of calamity’

Neneng’ leaves P178-M damage 

By Edison Justin B. Deus

LAOAG CITY – The provincial board declared a “state of calamity” in  Ilocos Norte through a resolution, allowing affected local government units to utilize their Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Funds to recover from the calamity.
    Post-calamity inspections and relief operations are still being conducted by the Provincial Government as of writing.
    This, as Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc reported Monday damage to Ilocos Norte’s agriculture and infrastructure was initially assessed at nearly P178 million, a day after Typhoon "Neneng" battered the province.
    The Provincial Government, through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Resiliency Council (PDRRMRC), Provincial Agriculture Office, and Provincial Engineering Office, bared more than P82 million worth of losses in agriculture and as much as P95 million worth of damage to infrastructure.
     "Neneng" also affected 111 barangays across 15 cities and municipalities and 4,300 families, or 17,000 individuals. 
    The PDRRMRC conducted six rescue operations and evacuated around 100 families during the typhoon’s onslaught.
     The Resiliency Council accounted for over 1700 houses affected by flooding, and partially and totally damaged houses at 60 and two  respectively.
    Three individuals were injured and a septuagenarian who was reported missing the night before the typhoon was found lifeless dead Oct. 18, making him the lone casualty.
     As of October 17, at least 1200 food packs worth almost P1 million were distributed to the hardest-hit communities.
    The provincial government’s programs on agriculture is set to aid thousands of farmers in terms of inputs and insurance.
The Governor said he coordinated with the local chief executive of the municipality of Adams, a highland town where significant damage was recorded, to address immediate needs of the community.
    He announced the Ilocos Norte Electric Coop. restored 83% electricity province-wide.