Baguio City—The city government is not bent on declaring Baguio under a state of calamity despite being hit by Typhoon “Ompong,” Mayor Mauricio Domogan said late Sunday.
“We will not declare a state of calamity in Baguio because we do not qualify,” Domogan said in a press briefing Sunday evening.
For a local government to be declared under a state of calamity, Domogan said that at least 20 percent of its population is affected, 40 percent of the livelihood of the residents are affected, the destruction of food crop is at least 40 percent, majors roads are impassable and there is disruption in the supply of electricity.
The mayor said that aside from Naguilian Road, which connects Baguio to Bauang, La Union being open to all types of vehicles, the Marcos Highway was also opened to all types of vehicles Sunday evening. Kennon Road remains closed since June.
The Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) has also reinstated power in 63.57 percent of the city. The power in Barangay Irisan, the city’s biggest barangay, was back as of 2 a.m. Monday.
As of 6:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said Baguio City has recorded nine confirmed deaths and five persons missing.
The national championship of Batang Pinoy Games, hosted by both Baguio and La Trinidad, Benguet, will also start today (September 17), with a number of the delegates from the different provinces in the country already in the city as of Wednesday, Sept. 12.
Benguet province remains in a state of calamity after its declaration on September 3 due to damages brought about by typhoons “Karding” and “Luis”.
Benguet Governor Crescencio Pacalso said that the province’s state of calamity declaration, which was supposed to be lifted in November, will be extended due to the effects of “Ompong.”