Typhoon Lando leaves over P7B of damage to agri, infra

The damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Typhoon Lando (international name: Koppu) has so far reached P7.33 billion, according to the latest official numbers.

 

Production losses in the agriculture and fisheries sector have reached P6.43 billion while the damage to infrastructures has amounted to P902.4 million, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Thursday. 

 

The damage estimates were for the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Cordillera. 

 

The Cagayan Valley region alone incurred at least P285 million in infrastructure damage, according to a separate report on GMA News' Balitanghali on Thursday.

 

The estimate is based on partial reports from the field and largely reflects the budget needed to repair roads and for clearing operations, said Nerie Bueno, regional director at the Department of Public Works and Highways.

 

"Ang equipment natin dito sa Region 2 ay hindi naman marami kaya nag-resort kami sa pag-renta ng private equipment para ang commuters natin ay makadaan at ang mga products ay ma-deliver from region to region," Bueno said. 

 

Baguio flood

Meanwhile, the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) reported that the damage suffered by Benguet has reached P5.142 million as of late Wednesday. 

 

The CRDRRMC noted that the flooding in Baguio City’s catch basin, the City Camp Lagoon  in Barangay City Camp Proper, has already subsided.  

 

All major roads leading to the city are open to traffic except for Kennon Road which has been declared unsafe for motorists. Three roads in the city proper were also closed to traffic.

 

In Benguet, all major roads in the province have been closed to traffic due to a series of landslides, and fallen trees. The situation has blocked the flow of goods and services, causing an increase in vegetable prices.

 

Farmers in the area also suffered losses as crops were destroyed by Lando. Data on the losses, however, was not readily available. – With Jon Viktor Cabuenas/Keith Richard Mariano/VS, GMA News