‘Aghon’ damage to infra, agri now at P1B

THE cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture due to the onslaught of typhoon “Aghon” has reached over P1 billion as of yesterday.

In a situation report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) placed the cost of damage to infrastructure at P942.54 million.

The damage was in the Calabarzon region, specifically in the provinces of Quezon (P548.87 million), Batangas (P207.80 million), and Laguna (P185.86 million).

The cost of damage to agriculture was placed at P85.62 in Calabarzon and Mimaropa.

Aghon, the country’s first tropical cyclone for this year, made its first of nine landfalls in Eastern Samar in the Eastern Visayas region on May 24. It exited the Philippine area of responsibility five days later.

The official death toll from Aghon was placed at six — five in Quezon and one in Misamis Oriental. One was confirmed injured in Northern Mindanao though seven other cases, all in Bicol, are being subjected to validation process.

The NDRRMC said Aghon has affected 41,105 families or 152 persons in seven regions — Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and the National Capital Region (Metro Manila).

Of the affected population, 22,642 families or 89,452 persons have been displaced. The number though was down to 760 families or 2,844 persons as of yesterday.

The NDRRMC said 7,659 houses were “totally” and “partially” damaged by Aghon in the Calabarzon and Eastern Visayas alone.

Nineteen cities and municipalities, all in Calabarzon, have declared a state of calamity, the NDRRMC also said.

It also said P15.3 million worth of assistance has been provided to those affected in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas, the NDRRMC added.