Agaton damage rises to P527M

MANILA, Philippines - The amount of property damaged by tropical depression "Agaton" has risen to more than P527 million, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Wednesday.

Damaged infrastructure accounted for more than half of the amount or P273.62 million.

Among the infrastructure affected by the bad weather were the irrigation dams in Barangays Aragon and Taytayan in Cateel, Davao Oriental and various water pipes in Lanao del Norte.

The amount of damage in the agriculture sector has reached P253.49 million.

NDRRMC said the weather disturbance has damaged 2,880 houses in parts of Bicol, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Caraga regions.

The death toll from "Agaton" has risen to 66 while nine people remain missing.

More than 1.148 million persons or 244,344 families were affected in 1,002 barangays in Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, Caraga and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Of the affected population, 97,110 persons or 20,086 families remain inside 223 evacuation centers.

The national and local governments and private donors have provided P80.88-million worth of relief goods to affected communities.