ILOILO City – Two vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will sail to Western Visayas to bring 10,000 family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and around 85 tons of relief goods for victims of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” last week.
Coast Guard District Western Visayas Chief of Staff Commander Jansen Benjamin, during the emergency meeting of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) yesterday, said BRP Romblon will proceed to Capiz while BRP Melchora Aquino will dock in Iloilo City.
The vessels were set to sail yesterday.
DSWD undersecretary Allan Tanjusay, during his visit to Antique on Wednesday, announced they will send more food packs and cash assistance as the number of affected residents continues to climb.
During the RDRRMC meeting, the DSWD regional office reported that over P35 million worth of food, non-food, and cash assistance have been released to affected families.
Casualties
“Paeng” left 42 casualties in the region, with 33 confirmed deaths and nine missing as of 10 a.m. yesterday.
Department of Interior and Local Government DRRM focal person Danilo Pedrajas Jr. said eight of those who died were from Iloilo, 11 from Antique, and seven each from Aklan and Capiz.
“The causes of deaths based on PNP (Philippine National Police) reports submitted were drowning, being swept by the strong current of water, flashflood, landslide, hypothermia, difficulty breathing, and electrocution,” he said.
Roads and bridges
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported damage to roads and bridges.
Estimated cost of repair, including for the two major infrastructures destroyed – the Paliwan Bridge in Barangay Cubay North, Bugasong, Antique that connects the town of Bugasong and Laua-an and the Oyungan Bridge in Miag-ao, Iloilo, reached over P1.7 billion.
Oliver Zamora, DPWH Maintenance Division officer-in-charge, said the cost of construction of the new Paliwan Bridge will be over P355.8 million and will take about 515 days or nearly a year and half.
There is a need to build a new one since it has served the province for around 50 years already, Zamora said.
“For Oyungan bridge we need P132 million. This will take 250 calendar days. We will be constructing 120 lineal meters four-span prestressed concrete girder bridge on board pile protection, including slope protection works. As of now a detour is being provided and they will be installing a 45 lineal meters bailey bridge,” he added.
Agriculture
Department of Agriculture DRRM focal person Jimmy Eledia Jr. said agriculture losses were at P394. 243 million with the rice commodity comprising 94 percent, followed by high-value crops, vegetables, fruit-bearing trees, sugarcane, and livestock and poultry.
“Reports are still coming in and we are still consolidating the reports consolidated by the provincial agriculturists,” he said.
The fishery sector incurred P379 million in damage, affecting 6,294 fisherfolk based on a report of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (PNA)/PN
