The House of Representatives may adjust the 2023 budget for rehabilitation of areas affected by severe tropical storm Paeng, Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez said Sunday.
He called for a comprehensive assessment of the damage and destruction caused by Paeng in many parts of the country, saying Congress may adjust the proposed P5.268 trillion national budget for next year to ensure storm-stricken areas get the help they need.
The House has already passed the proposed budget for next year on the third and final reading, while the Senate is yet to tackle it shortly after Congress resumes its session on Nov. 7.
The Department of Agriculture estimated that the storm caused damage in Mimaropa, Bicol, and Western Visayas amounting to P49.54 million, affecting 762 farmers and a loss of 2,543 metric tons of production and 1,949 hectares of agricultural area.
Affected commodities include rice, high-value crops, and fisheries. The values were still subject to validation, the department said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways, meanwhile, said at least 45 national roads across the country were closed to traffic because of the widespread damage caused by Paeng.
In an interview with radio dzBB, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said various roads were damaged because Paeng traveled from Mindanao to Luzon.
He added that clearing operations were ongoing, particularly on major roads so that goods and services as well as relief could pass.
Bonoan said the department needs to repair broken bridges and roads going to Antique from Iloilo.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 147 roads and 53 bridges were not passable because of Paeng.
Bonoan said the Bantilan Bridge in Quezon Province was totally washed out due to debris from big logs.
The bridge, which is 30 meters long, is located between Barangay Tipas in San Juan, Batangas, and Barangay Bantilan in Sariaya, Quezon.
Also, Bonoan said parts of Daang Maharlika, a national road from Davao to Cagayan, were impassable due to fallen trees and soil erosion.
He said roads in Aklan experienced flooding but no major damage so far has been reported.
Calabarzon (Region 4-A) has recorded at least three fatalities and evacuated more than 80,000 residents.
Noveleta Mayor Dino Reyes Chua said of the two fatalities in the municipality one died of a heart attack, and the other slipped and suffered a fatal head injury.
Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla said that a third fatality was due to electrocution.
At least 10,101 Cavite residents (2,959 families) were also evacuated in preparation for Paeng, which flooded 33 areas in Noveleta, Imus, Kawit, Bacoor, and Rosario.
Floods in the province have started to subside, enabling relief distribution to begin within the day.
In Laguna, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Aldrin Cejo said about 27,000 people or 7,000 families were evacuated.
There were no reports of casualties in the province yet.
Cejo said that 30 people were rescued in Calauan, Victoria, and Bay. Another 50 people were rescued in several areas in the first district of Laguna.
In Quezon province, Gov. Helen Tan said that 47,000 people or 14,000 families were staying in evacuation centers.
She said that the Bantilan Bridge collapsed on Saturday night, while the roads going to Real, Infanta, and Nakar were impassable due to landslides. Several areas in the province also experienced flooding. Almost half the province was suffering from power outages, she added.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol recorded a fatality as well as one missing and four injured persons.
OCD-Bicol recorded 28,462 families or 111,579 people who fled their homes due to the typhoon. Of the total, 26,486 families or 103,390 people transferred to evacuation centers.
Paeng left Northern Mindanao provinces with P111.4 million in damaged houses and infrastructure.
In a report released Sunday by the Regional Risk Reduction Management Council-10, it said all the damage was recorded in Misamis Oriental.
Most affected in the province was the municipality of Jasaan, with four villages reporting partially and totally destroyed houses amounting to P1.13 million.
The province also recorded damaged fishing boats and gear amounting to P95,000.
The municipality of Lagonglong reported damaged sea walls in two villages amounting to P110 million. Othel Campos and Rio N. Araja