Paeng infrastructure damage breaches P4.5 billion mark

Severe Tropical Storm Paeng’s (international name: Nalgae) estimated cost of damage to infrastructure has now breached the P4.5 billion mark, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Monday.

In its 6 a.m. situational report, the NDRRMC said the cost of 800 damaged infrastructure in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) jumped to P4,512,696,137.88.

Calabarzon still recorded the highest amount of damage, involving 111 infrastructure at P1,243,670,800.

This was followed by Mimaropa with 269 damaged infrastructure amounting to P997,052,772, and Bicol Region with 180 damaged infrastructure at P793,374,689.99.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported P2,989,090,147.535 production loss or cost of damage in the agriculture sector of Regions 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 6, 9, 10, Bangsamoro Region, and CAR due to Paeng, the NDRRMC said.

The most damage to agriculture was still recorded in the Bicol Region amounting to P924,124,008.65. Calabarzon was next with P726,119,476.09 worth of damage, and Central Luzon with P430,795,256.025.

The National Irrigation Administration also posted a P96,102,000 cost of damage in Cagayan Valley and the Bicol Region.

The reported death toll due to Paeng, on the other hand, remained at 156. There were also 37 missing people, and 141 injured.

There were also 4,637,173 affected people or 1,273,058 families in 9,489 barangays.

At least 951 evacuation centers currently cater to 108,791 displaced individuals or 27,001 families, while 920,586 people or 326,456 families were staying outside of evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC also recorded 34,943 houses damaged due to Paeng, amounting to P17,286,000. Of these houses, 31,676 were partially damaged, and 3,267 were totally damaged.

There were 122 roads and 68 bridges that were still not passable because of Paeng.

A total of P167,619,871.93 worth of assistance was already provided in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-1, 4-B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Caraga, CAR, and the National Capital Region, NDRRMC added. 

Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Eduardo Punay said Monday the agency has so far distributed at least P236 million of humanitarian assistance to Paeng-hit individuals

He said DSWD is also providing cash relief worth P2,000 to P10,000 under its assistance to individuals in crisis situations (AICS) program.

“Whenever we encounter a request or applications, say burial assistance, we give a maximum of P10,000 cash. Then for medical assistance or food assistance, that ranges from P2,000 to P10,000,” Punay said in an interview on ANC.

The DSWD also still has a P1.1 billion in standby fund that can be used for the year, he added. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA Integrated News