Infra damage due to ‘habagat’, cyclones hit P9B

Damage to infrastructure due to tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon or “habagat” has swelled to over P9.4 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its Wednesday report.
Tropical cyclones “Crising” (international name: Wipha), “Dante” (Francisco) and “Emong” (Co-may) intensified the habagat, unleashing heavy rains that caused widespread flooding in many areas in Luzon and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Their combined effects damaged 1,536 infrastructures in 10 regions nationwide, including 617 road sections and 41 bridges.
A total of 4,473 houses were also destroyed. Most affected was Central Luzon, which accounted for over P3.8 billion in damage, followed by Ilocos Region at P3 billion.
Destruction to agriculture, on the other hand, was estimated at nearly P2 billion.
The death toll from the cyclones and habagat remains at 34, while the total number of those injured and missing stood at 22 and seven, respectively, the NDRRMC said.