The death toll from severe Tropical Storm “Maring” has reached 13 and missing nine, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Wednesday, but added the numbers were still being validated.
Dave Leprozo, Danny Pata, PCG
“Maring” has so far caused almost P493.8 million worth of damage to agriculture in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Ilocos Region incurred the biggest damage at around P262.5 million, followed by Cagayan Valley at P114.1 million and CAR at P117.2 million
Some 109 houses were reported damaged by “Maring” in Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Caraga, and the CAR.
The number of affected barangays was placed at 237 in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Caraga, and the CAR.
Meanwhile, the number of affected families stands at 6,111 or equivalent to 21,511 persons.
Of these, 1,513 families or 5,852 individuals are staying in 99 evacuation centers while the rest have either returned home or are staying with relatives and friends.
Meanwhile, the Anakpawis Party-list called for a “national bayanihan” or nationwide cooperation of citizens to aid the affected population, which is predominantly farmers.
More than 12,000 hectares of rice lands were flooded in Cagayan Valley and nearly 1,500 hectares in the Cordillera, according to Rafael Mariano, national chairman of the party-list.
Mariano said based on the NDRRMC situation report in Cagayan province, 8,486 hectares of rice lands were affected, valued at P43,312,241 or an average damage value of P5,103 per hectare.
The former agrarian reform chief said his group was already preparing to raise funds, with farmers in Cagayan Valley as initial beneficiaries.