Benguet and Apayao have also been declared under a state of calamity due to the effects of Typhoon Egay aggravated by the continuous southwest monsoon rains.
In its resolution, the provincial board of Benguet stated the typhoon caused widespread devastation and severe adverse impact on the community, infrastructure, and economy of the province.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 77 percent of the barangays or 108 of the 140 barangays in Benguet recorded damaged houses, seven deaths, 14 injuries, and 5,705 families or 22, 400 individuals affected by the typhoon.
The Benguet Electric Cooperative also reported more than P8 million in damage to its facilities, but restoration of electricity power continues.
Also, 24 of the 57 provincial roads incurred significant damage due to landslides. The provincial government estimated a total cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture at P394.6M and counting, as per the PDRRMC report on Aug. 2.
In Apayao, the typhoon has affected 6,206 families with one death, who was earlier found as one of the six missing individuals caught in a landslide in Butao, Calanasan.
The typhoon also damaged 12,171.75 hectares of agricultural crops including corn, palay, vegetables, cassava, banana, coconuts, and fruit-bearing trees with total estimated damage of P426.4M in Apayao.
Flashfloods also led to the destruction of aqua-farms, livestock and poultry with a total cost of P3,414,896.
Apayao reported that lifeline utilities including educational, health, housing and social facilities had a total damage cost of P95,464,900.
Abra and Mountain Province were the first provinces that were declared under state of calamity. – Ofelia C. Empian
