Yolanda leaves P4.3B damages in Bantayan

CEBU, Philippines - Typhoon Yolanda has left an estimated damage of P4.3 billion in the municipality of Bantayan.

Vince Escario, the town's spokesperson, said that housing accounted for the bulk of damage at P2.5 billion and P1.1 billion for poultry, piggery and livestock.

"Hurot gyud ang tanang poultry farms and it would take mga seven months from now before mangitlog ang mga manok. There are still chicken eggs but nihit ug mahal. Maglisod og pangitlog ang mga manok kay na-traumatized sa nahitabo and we cannot let the chicken undergo stress debriefing," said Escario.

In a press briefing organized by the Philippine Information Agency-7 at the MIP Lounge at Benito Ebuen Airbase in Lapu-Lapu City, Escario said that municipal structures have damages amounting to P106.2 million, another P80.5 million for barangay infrastructures and school buildings at P101.4 million.

Figures also show that the town's agriculture/crops were also badly damaged with an estimated cost of P148.8 million.

Powerlines, the town's major backbone for it to recover, has an estimated P80 million in damages.

Escario said that it has been more than a month and the town's 72,000 residents are still bearing the darkness.

Powerlines, which were completely toppled down by Yolanda, will be fully restored in four to six months.

The town, with 25 barangays, also sustained some P34.5 million in damages for the commercial buildings and P20.7 million for religious structures.

Damages incurred for fisheries/marine commodities reached P51.1 million. The town has an estimated 40,000 fishermen.

Allan Poquita, assistant regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7, said that in the next two weeks, they will be giving out millions of seaweed seedlings from Mindanao for the town's seaweed farmers.

Poquita has estimated P16 million damages for seaweed farms in the said town.

Poquita added that aside from fishing accessories, of the 200 pump boats engines distributed by BFAR-7 to the other towns in Northern Cebu, 51 were given to Bantayan.

Meanwhile, Escario also urged Bantayanons especially those living abroad to come back home and consider "sharing" their lands especially among the illegal settlers along the coastlines, as the local government units is gearing towards providing a better, safer and permanent shelter for these constituents.

"We are now in the stage of rebuilding lives, rebuilding communities. We still need all the assistance although our trade and commerce is slowly rising. We will rise again stronger and wiser," said Escario.

Bantayan is one of the three towns in Bantayan Island. The other two are Sta. Fe and Madridejos. Myanmar President Thein Sein had visited Sta. Fe last week. — (FREEMAN)