Typhoon Florita damages P368M in agriculture, infrastructure in Cordillera 06-07-16

	NORDIS WEEKLY July 16, 2006
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Typhoon Florita damages P368M in agriculture, infrastructure in Cordillera
*Death tolls at 8; affected 55,146 residents* LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (July 15) — Strong winds and heavy rains of typhoon “Florita” beating down for three days caused the loss of millions worth in agriculture and infra-structures projects. Florita exacted her toll through landslides, rendering thousands homeless and eight dead. According to the updates today from the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), at least P368 million worth of agricultural properties and products, and infrastructure projects were destroyed in Benguet and the rest of the Cordillera. The heavy three-day rains brought by the typhoon affected at least 12,276 families or 55,146 people in the region, according to Jojo Valera, RDCC Planning Head, in an interview with Nordis. In Baguio, the damage is approximately P183 million as of Thursday, according to City Administrator Peter Fianza. Valera added that reports from municipalities of the region showed that there are at least 40 houses totally destroyed and 95 considered partially damaged. He claims that the damage would be bigger as reports trickle in from other municipalities cut off by landslides. He added that there are already eight casualties in the region where two were reported from Baguio, namely Perfecto Gaerlan, 54, a council member from Barangay Sto. Rosario and Gracel Benito, seven years who fell off from a creek at Brookside barangay here, whose body was recovered last Thursday in Bauang, La Union. The other six are all from Mt. Province. Valera said that a landslide covered the house of the Tocnang spouses in Letang, Tapapan, Bauko, the spouses survived but their six children: Racter (13 years old); Jayson (11); Joan (9); Rosanna (7); Frenalyn (2) all died as a result of the landslide avalanche. The sixth casualty was from Lengwa, Bauko identified as Nawa Cawiding, 57 years, who died when a landslide covered his garden while tending his vegetables. The RDCC claimed that there were two missing persons namely Osios Balbawang Jr., four years old, and Roland Tannuman, 25 years old. Osios Jr. was with his family in San Carlos Heights, when landslides covered their home. The Balbawang couple and two other children survived the landslides. On the other hand, a landslide in Bugias town of this province covered Tannuman, 25, when he joined residents clearing road landslides. In Flora, Apayao reported missing are Michael Addatu and Raul Gatan, 21 years old. Earlier reported missing Oman Bacayan, 65 of Abra and Frencess Separa, 6 of Ambuclao Road, Baguio City, are already safe and with their respective families. Meanwhile, Naguilan Road, Kennon Road and Marcos Highways are already passable but the RDCC cautioned that there are areas in Naguilian and Kennon Roads for one-way traffic only. RDCC advises motorists to take Marcos Highway. Halsema Highway, on the other hand, is still closed as of press time due to landslides and road cuts particularly in Atok, Sayangan of this province. Heavy landslides occurred at Km 35 and other parts of Atok. RDCC cannot confirm yet when Halsema Highway would be completely opened but claimed that DPWH equipment are in the area. Benguet Governor Melchor Borromeo is reportedly in the area helping supervise clearing activities. The heaviest landslide in Baguio is along P. Burgos where the road eroded and led to the collapsedof the retaining wall along Magsaysay Avenue. The road remains close as of press time. CDCC chairperson Mayor Braulio Yaranon who immediately activated the CDCC during typhoon Florita requested the City Council to declare the city under state of calamity for systematic delivery of services. So far, only Baguio City and La Trinidad town in Benguet have declared a state of calamity. Meanwhile, RDCC’s Valera claimed that financial assistance of P10,000 per family of the victim is being supervised by Dir. Vicente Tomazar of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD). He added that the NDCC already delivered 250 sacks of rice, 200 of which are targeted for distribution in Benguet and 50 for Baguio. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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	NORDIS WEEKLY July 16, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Typhoon Florita damages P368M in agriculture, infrastructure in Cordillera
*Death tolls at 8; affected 55,146 residents* LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (July 15) — Strong winds and heavy rains of typhoon “Florita” beating down for three days caused the loss of millions worth in agriculture and infra-structures projects. Florita exacted her toll through landslides, rendering thousands homeless and eight dead. According to the updates today from the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), at least P368 million worth of agricultural properties and products, and infrastructure projects were destroyed in Benguet and the rest of the Cordillera. The heavy three-day rains brought by the typhoon affected at least 12,276 families or 55,146 people in the region, according to Jojo Valera, RDCC Planning Head, in an interview with Nordis. In Baguio, the damage is approximately P183 million as of Thursday, according to City Administrator Peter Fianza. Valera added that reports from municipalities of the region showed that there are at least 40 houses totally destroyed and 95 considered partially damaged. He claims that the damage would be bigger as reports trickle in from other municipalities cut off by landslides. He added that there are already eight casualties in the region where two were reported from Baguio, namely Perfecto Gaerlan, 54, a council member from Barangay Sto. Rosario and Gracel Benito, seven years who fell off from a creek at Brookside barangay here, whose body was recovered last Thursday in Bauang, La Union. The other six are all from Mt. Province. Valera said that a landslide covered the house of the Tocnang spouses in Letang, Tapapan, Bauko, the spouses survived but their six children: Racter (13 years old); Jayson (11); Joan (9); Rosanna (7); Frenalyn (2) all died as a result of the landslide avalanche. The sixth casualty was from Lengwa, Bauko identified as Nawa Cawiding, 57 years, who died when a landslide covered his garden while tending his vegetables. The RDCC claimed that there were two missing persons namely Osios Balbawang Jr., four years old, and Roland Tannuman, 25 years old. Osios Jr. was with his family in San Carlos Heights, when landslides covered their home. The Balbawang couple and two other children survived the landslides. On the other hand, a landslide in Bugias town of this province covered Tannuman, 25, when he joined residents clearing road landslides. In Flora, Apayao reported missing are Michael Addatu and Raul Gatan, 21 years old. Earlier reported missing Oman Bacayan, 65 of Abra and Frencess Separa, 6 of Ambuclao Road, Baguio City, are already safe and with their respective families. Meanwhile, Naguilan Road, Kennon Road and Marcos Highways are already passable but the RDCC cautioned that there are areas in Naguilian and Kennon Roads for one-way traffic only. RDCC advises motorists to take Marcos Highway. Halsema Highway, on the other hand, is still closed as of press time due to landslides and road cuts particularly in Atok, Sayangan of this province. Heavy landslides occurred at Km 35 and other parts of Atok. RDCC cannot confirm yet when Halsema Highway would be completely opened but claimed that DPWH equipment are in the area. Benguet Governor Melchor Borromeo is reportedly in the area helping supervise clearing activities. The heaviest landslide in Baguio is along P. Burgos where the road eroded and led to the collapsedof the retaining wall along Magsaysay Avenue. The road remains close as of press time. CDCC chairperson Mayor Braulio Yaranon who immediately activated the CDCC during typhoon Florita requested the City Council to declare the city under state of calamity for systematic delivery of services. So far, only Baguio City and La Trinidad town in Benguet have declared a state of calamity. Meanwhile, RDCC’s Valera claimed that financial assistance of P10,000 per family of the victim is being supervised by Dir. Vicente Tomazar of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD). He added that the NDCC already delivered 250 sacks of rice, 200 of which are targeted for distribution in Benguet and 50 for Baguio. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS Post your comments, reactions to this article
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