MORE NEWS, IFUGAO

Ifugao typhoon loss now P270 M; 2,000 Pampanga families also displaced
By Juan B. Dait Jr.

LAGAWE, Ifugao – This highland province has suffered at least P270 million in typhoon damage to farm crops and public works project, Provincial Social Work and Development Officer Joyce Niwane, chairperson of the Ifugao Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, reported.

Niwane also confirmed reports on the death of 16 persons in six municipalities, with Kiangan town reporting nine persons buried by landslides in two barangays.
Fifty-five houses were totally damaged by typhoon “Emong,” Niwane said. She added that 178 houses were partially damaged, with Lamut municipality reporting the heaviest damage to agriculture.

Earlier, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral said she will release soon “Food for Work” and “Cash for Work” funds for the benefit of the families of typhoon victims.

In a related development, a group of councilors of Kiangan town went recently on a three-day trip to Manila to request for calamity fund assistance for the typhoon-devastated municipalities from various national offices.

The sangguniang bayan officials submitted resolutions appealing for assistance to Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Social Welfare and Development Secretary Cabral, and Ifugao Congressman Solomon Chungalao.

The team was composed of Councilors Mary Ananayo, Rufino Dulnuan, Jose Tayaban Jr., and Hato Dulnuan.

Meanwhile, in Pampanga, more than 2,000 families were affected by typhoon “Emong”, the Pampanga Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) and the Angeles City Disaster Coordinating Council (ACDCC) reported.

PDCC unit head Filipina Sevilla said that Guagua and Sasmuan towns were the hardest hit. Angeles City reported minor damage to infrastructure and private properties. – With a report from MM


DSWD to fund Ifugao houses destroyed by Typhoon Emong
By Dexter A. See

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral told local officials here last week the Department of Social Welfare and Development will immediately process release of funds for Ifugao folk whose houses were recently wrecked by typhoon "Emong."

Under an arrangement, the provincial and municipal governments will look for the relocation sites for the typhoon victims.

Ifugao Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr. earlier informed Cabral that 55 houses were totally damaged by the typhoon, and 241 families in the 11 towns of the province were displaced.

Responding to the request for assistance, Cabral announced the DSWD will provide funds for "the cash for work" on community infrastructure, which is part of the Arroyo administration’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).

The provincial disaster coordinating council had reported typhoon damage to agriculture pegged at P133 million and damage to infrastructure, P53 million.

The typhoon caused 16 deaths. In Kiangan, "Emong" killed nine persons; Lagawe, two; Hingyon, two; Asipulo, two; and Aguinaldo, one.

Cabral distributed 500 family relief packs for the typhoon victims as initial package of the national government’s assistance to the victims.

Tapping the calamity fund of the provincial government, Baguilat distributed P10,000 each to the families of the dead victims.

Baguilat said due to the extensive damage caused by the typhoon, the classification of the province could be downgraded to the group of the poorest provinces in the country, noting that many residents had been deprived of their sources of livelihood.

Baguilat cited the need for immediate action by concerned national government agencies on the plight of his province, saying "we need funds to rehabilitate damaged roads which inter-connect most of the barangays and the towns of Ifugao to each other.