Ineng damage breaches P4 B

MANILA, Philippines - The amount of infrastructure and agriculture damage due to Typhoon Ineng has breached P4 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported yesterday. 

The NDRRMC said damage to infrastructure was placed at P2.33 billion; crops, P1.74 billion; and other properties, including agricultural lands, P29.7 million. 

The Ilocos region sustained P2.25 billion in damage, Cordilleras (P1.75 billion), Cagayan (P76.92 million) and Central Luzon (P17.36 million). A total of 5,742 houses were also damaged. 

NDRRMC spokesman Mina Marasigan gave assurance the government would provide assistance to the affected regions. 

“We will go back to the drawing board. We cannot just restore normalcy. We need to build back better,” Marasigan told The STAR in a phone interview.  

She said the affected provinces are expected to come up with post-disaster reports, which would serve as the basis for their request for rehabilitation funds. 

The regional civil defense office will assess the reports, which will be sent to the NDRRMC before these are forwarded to the budget department.

“We recognize the urgency and the need for assistance and we will do it judiciously,” Marasigan said.

A total of P14 billion had been allotted for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund under this year’s budget. Of the amount, P13 billion was allocated for the calamity fund and P1 billion for the people’s survival fund, which is earmarked for adaptation projects and activities of local governments and community organizations.

The death toll due to Ineng rose to 33. Among the fatalities was John Aluyan Jr., whose body was recovered under a landslide in Benguet yesterday.

Ineng displaced 318,359 persons or 71,955 families in six regions.– With Raymund Catindig