President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday assured typhoon-hit residents that government agencies have heightened their road clearing operations and electric line restoration efforts following the onslaught of typhoon “Neneng.”
The President — in a social media post — announced that electric lines are currently being restored in 13 municipalities in the Ilocos region and five provinces in Cagayan Valley while road clearing operations are ongoing in the 34 impassable sections.
Food packs have also been delivered to families in 32 evacuation centers as well as other affected communities.
Citing initial reports from the Department of Energy, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the President said that some 27,914 individuals were affected in Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
The report also disclosed that 1,192 families have been pre-emptively evacuated, while 285 families are taking shelter at evacuation centers.
To recall, Typhoon “Neneng” made landfall in Cagayan at 3:50 a.m. on Sunday, 16 October, after developing into a severe tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h and gustiness of up to 130 km/h.
“Neneng” left the Philippine Area of Responsibility hours later, at around 8 p.m. on the same day, but continued to bring rain to northern provinces.
Meantime, the NDRRMC reported that 32 evacuation centers were being utilized which now shelters 199 families, or 721 persons. The other individuals or families are housed with their families or friends.
In other developments, Ilocos Norte was placed under a state of calamity on Monday due to severe flooding brought about by “Neneng” as members of the Ilocos Norte board unanimously approved a resolution declaring a state of calamity in the province.
Marcell Tabije, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer in Ilocos Norte, said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has estimated damage to infrastructure and agriculture at around P103.5 million so far.
More reports of damage from the different local government units are still expected within the day, he added.
The initial damage to infrastructure worth P76.4 million included flood and river control projects, roads and bridges, while estimated damage to agriculture was placed at P27.1 million. With Glen Jose