Neneng infrastructure, agriculture damage hits nearly P90 million – NDRRMC

MANILA, Philippines — No fatalities were reported, but two persons were injured and damage to infrastructure and agriculture due to Typhoon Neneng has reached almost P90 million.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said damage to infrastructure was initially placed at P81.5 million, mostly in Ilocos region.

Damage to agriculture was estimated at P7.6 million and affected 1,124 farmers and fisherfolk.

Neneng, which left the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday, affected 103,662 people or 29,544 families in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras, according to a report released by the NDRRMC yesterday.

A report of the Cagayan provincial DRRMC said damage to infrastructure and agriculture in the province alone reached P692.3 million and P192.15 million, respectively.

Ruelie Rapsing, Cagayan PDRRMC head, said roads and bridges were most affected.

He said 28,161 families displaced by flooding in 18 towns have returned to their homes.

President Marcos directed concerned government agencies to provide aid to areas battered by the typhoon.

“We have instructed the NDRRMC, DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and DOE (Department of Energy) to ensure that help reaches the communities in Regions 1, 2 and CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) that were affected by Typhoon Neneng,” Marcos said in a post on Twitter.

“We join the nation in praying for the safety of our kababayans and the rescue workers bravely providing much-needed aid,” he added.

State of calamity in Ilocos Norte

In Ilocos Norte, the provincial board passed a resolution declaring a state of calamity.

With the declaration, local government units can utilize local disaster risk reduction and management funds for relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc said damage to both agriculture and infrastructure in the province was initially placed at P178 million.

As of Monday, 1,200 food packs worth almost P1 million were distributed to villages hardest hit by the typhoon.

Manotoc said he is coordinating with the mayor of Adams, a highland town where significant damage was recorded, to address the immediate need of residents.

The Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative said 83 percent of electricity in the province has been restored. – Alexis Romero, Artemio Dumlao, Jun Elias