BONTOC, Mountain Province – The damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by the July 27 earthquake in the capital town has reached P37,558, 161.80 as of Aug. 4.
This was reported during the 3rd Quarter Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) meeting on Aug. 10 at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol Auditorium.
MDRRM Officer Johanna Padaen reported damaged infrastructure include ato or dap-ay, pathways, day care centers, barangay halls, schools, barangay health stations, and residential and other structures initially amounting to P34,156,000.
Damage to agriculture has reached P3,402,161.80 including livestock, poultry, and agricultural assets such as rice, high-value crops, and rice granaries.
The initial cost of damage was based on the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) conducted by the Municipal Infrastructure Audit Team (MIAT) to the 16 barangays of Bontoc and reports from barangay local government units.
On damaged structures, Bontoc has recorded 167 damaged houses, 160 of which are partially damaged and seven are totally damaged. The totally damaged houses – two in Alab Proper, four in Mai-nit, and one in Talubin – were found not safe for occupancy and relocation of the occupants was recommended.
On damage to schools, the Dalican National High School building 1 is structurally unsafe and unfit for occupancy.
The other buildings and structures with partial damage are safe for occupancy as recommended by the MIAT.
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Araceli Shane Bayanos reported 534 families or 2,747 individuals were affected by the tremor. As an immediate response, DSWD food packs were provided to the affected families.
Those who stayed at evacuation centers were given hygiene kits from the MDRRM Office.
Bontoc Mayor and MDRRMC Chairperson Jerome Tudlong, Jr. thanked and lauded the workforce and volunteers for their prompt response when the earthquake occurred. “During the most difficult times, we saw the best in us. The spirit of ogogfo is innate in us. This is what keeps us going and what makes us resilient to any eventualities and challenges that come our way,” the mayor added. – Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay
