Ilocos worst hit by storm; 18 dead, P2 B damage

The death toll due to Tropical Storm Mario has risen to 18 while damage to property has reached P2 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

 The number of injured persons remained at 16 while four people were still missing.

Damage to agriculture was placed at P1.45 billion and P585.21 million for infrastructure. Crops suffered the brunt of agriculture damage at P1.09 billion.

Valentin Perdido, executive director of the Department of Agriculture in Ilocos Region, said Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan were worst hit, followed by La Union and Ilocos Sur.

The cost of damage to national roads and bridges was estimated at P298.7 million and P107.2 million for local roads and bridges.

The storm also damaged P104.26 million worth of infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and flood control structures.

A total of 1,843 houses were damaged in five regions.

 The NDRRMC said 419,939 or 1,907,617 persons had been affected in 1,703 barangays.

The government and private donors have provided P35.84 million worth of assistance to affected residents. – With Charlie Lagasca