ILOILO City – Losses to super typhoon “Odette” in Western Visayas soared to over P2 billion, consolidated data from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6 showed.
The agriculture sector (rice farming) incurred biggest loss at P1,052,324,097.31.
OCD data showed 67,872.47 metric tons of rice crops were damaged; 42,171 farmers suffered losses.
On the other hand, losses in the fishery sector reached P899,498,408. A total of 1,194 fisherfolk were displaced.
“Odette” also damaged property/equipment of 1,874 fisherfolk valued at P294,493,880.
As for damaged infrastructures, losses reached P9.8 million.
The typhoon plowed the region on Dec. 16 and 17, displacing 26,169 families composed of 122,458 individuals.
The OCD also recorded typhoon-related deaths in Western Visayas – 33 in Negros Occidental and four in Panay Island. Fifty-nine individuals were injured while 19 were still missing as of this writing.
Regarding damaged houses, OCD recorded 246,043 (183,135 partially and 62,908 totally).
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 was able to extended assistance – 40,299 family food packs worth P22.7 million.
It also released P370,000 in AICS (Aid for Individuals in Crisis Situation) to affected families in Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental provinces.
On Dec. 22 President Rodrigo Duterte placed Western Visayas and five other typhoon-hit regions in the country under a state of calamity.
“The declaration of a state of calamity will hasten the rescue and relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and the private sector including kung saan galing tulong, be it outside or tayo-tayo lang,” Duterte said.
Aside from Western Visayas, also placed under a state of calamity are Region IV-B (MIMAROPA), Region VII (Central Visayas Region), Region VIII (Eastern Visayas Region), Region X (Northern Mindanao), and Region XIII (CARAGA).
“This will also be an effective mechanism to control the prices of goods and commodities in the areas,” said Duterte.
The President signed Proclamation No. 1267 upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
It directed all departments and other concerned government agencies to implement and execute rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitation work in accordance with pertinent operational plans and directives.
They were also tasked to coordinate with, and provide or augment the basic services and facilities of affected LGUs.
The island province of Guimaras declared a state of calamity on Dec. 19. Negros Occidental and Iloilo City made similar declarations, too./PN
