Agri, infra damage due to ‘Kristine’ and ‘Leon’ balloons to P11.2-B; Bicol has highest agri losses

POWER RESTORATION Power restoration work continues in the town of Tiwi in Albay on Oct. 28, a week after strong rains and winds brought by Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” (international name: Trami) caused a blackout in the geothermal energy-rich town. As of Thursday, only three of its 25 villages have their electricity restored. —TIWI MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT PHOTO

The damage to agriculture and infrastructure due to the combined effects of Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” and Supertyphoon “Leon” has ballooned to P11.2 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Friday.

In its latest bulletin, the NDRRMC said agricultural losses were already at P4.46 billion, while the damage to infrastructure was at P6.82 billion.

According to the disaster agency, the Bicol region recorded the highest damage to agriculture at P2.831 billion, followed by Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) at P736,476,510, Central Luzon at P316,691,774, and the Ilocos Region at P217,244,977.

The NDRRMC said that 105,258 farmers and fisherfolks and 90,321 hectares of crops were affected by the weather disturbances while damage to irrigation facilities across the country was already at P32.62 million.

The council said that the death toll remained at 150, with 30 individuals still missing and 122 injured.

Leon and Kristine have affected 7,953,766 individuals or 2,028,282 families in 17 regions, according to the NDRRMC.

A total of 311,980 people or 81,716 families are still in various evacuation centers, while 155,121 houses have been damaged, with 12,029 totally damaged and 143,092 partially damaged.

The government has so far provided P996,662,070 worth of assistance to the typhoon victims as 220 cities and municipalities have been placed under a state of calamity, the NDRRMC said.

On Thursday, two Indonesian military helicopters arrived in Manila to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its humanitarian and disaster relief operations.

“With the arrival of these helicopters, the PAF’s aerial relief capabilities are further strengthened, enabling more efficient delivery of much-needed relief supplies to remote and inaccessible areas,” said Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson.

Air assets from Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia flew in earlier to aid the government’s relief efforts.

President Marcos has ordered “a conveyor belt of aid” to ensure the continuous delivery of assistance to the typhoon-hit areas.

Kristine, the 11th storm to hit the country this year, left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Oct. 25, while Leon left PAR early Friday.