Zambales records P5.3M agri losses due to ‘Carina,’ habagat
SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES – The agricultural damage in Zambales due intense rains spawned by Super Typhoon “Carina” (international name: Gaemi) and the southwest monsoon or “habagat” exceeded P5.3 million, based on the initial damage assessment done by the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) on Saturday.
The office said the damage to rice fields was P4,822,886.79; on high-value crops was at P196,366; and on fisheries was at P302,240. This affected the livelihood of 1,108 fishermen and farmers in the province, the PAO report added.
According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), some 2,139 families or 6,128 individuals were affected by the weather disturbances. A total of 1,920 families or 5,724 evacuated at the height of the typhoon’s onslaught but most have returned to their homes after the rain stopped and the flood subsided.
The latest data from PDRRMC also showed that four houses in the province were destroyed while 30 were partially damaged.
“Carina,” combined with the effects of the “habagat” brought heavy rainfall to the western section of Luzon, including Metro Manila. The heavy rain that began last Monday caused widespread floods in the National Capital Region and surrounding provinces.
The Philippine National Police reported Friday that the death toll from the monsoon rains intensified by typhoon Carina has climbed to 34.
State of calamity
On Thursday, Rizal province declared a state of calamity, joining the number of local governments in Luzon under the same state, including Metro Manila.
Outside of NCR, the provinces Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan and Bataan gave earlier placed themselves under state of calamity due to the widespread destruction caused by Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon.
On Friday, President Marcos visited the evacuees in Rizal’s San Mateo town as part of his ocular inspection in typhoon-hit areas.
The Presidential Communication Office, in a statement, said Mr. Marcos has directed concerned government agencies to provide immediate assistance to isolated typhoon victims in the mountain village of Sta. Ines in Tanay town.
The President also tasked Public Works Secretary Manny Bonoan and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. to find a way how to reach the victims in isolated areas.
A report from Tanay Mayor Lito Tanjuatco said around 3,000 families in Sta. Ines were isolated and have yet to receive assistance, explaining that the roads leading to the village were not passable due to landslides, making relief operations problematic.
Rizal Gov. Rebecca Ynares reported that out of the 14 towns in the province, three were badly hit by “Carina:” San Mateo, with 3,031 evacuated families; Montalban, 3,170 families; and Cainta, 2,213 families.
Rizal recorded two deaths, eight injuries, and one missing person during the typhoon, Ynares reported.
