By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
Typhoon Odette caused “huge damage” in many areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday.
“We are still assessing the damage but it is huge as per the initial report, entire communities leveled to the ground, no electricity, water, and food. The first thing we are doing is to address the food and water and medical care of the injured,” he said when asked for his initial assessment of the damage.
Lorenzana, who is also the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chair, said he has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deploy all its available assets to bring relief to the affected areas.
“I have directed the AFP to deploy all available assets (ships, boats, aircraft, trucks) to bring relief goods to the stricken areas. I have also directed the AFP to deploy more troops if necessary,” he added.
Lorenzana also assured the public that all affected communities and families will be provided aid by the government.
“Everyone will be served in due time,” he added.
Lorenzana, meanwhile, did not comment on reports of 208 deaths from the Philippine National Police.
“No official count yet as there are still reported missing,” he said.
Also, Lorenzana said the country can conduct its own relief operations and foreign donors are also welcome.
In its update Monday afternoon, the NDRRMC reported that it has confirmed nine deaths and two injuries. Meanwhile, undergoing validation are reports of 49 deaths, 199 injured, and 18 missing.
“Odette” also left an initial P343,454,774 worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture across the Visayas and Mindanao.
It also destroyed various government facilities, flood control projects, roads, bridges, and other infrastructures which amounted to P225,170,000, as well as various agricultural products worth P118,284,774.
At least 54,783 houses were either totally or partially destroyed, 41 road sections and four bridge sections collapsed, along with four airports and 118 seaports were damaged while 5,391.77 hectares of crops, and many livestock and poultry areas were completely wiped out in the affected regions.
These include Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Communication lines were already restored in 106 areas out of the total 136 areas that encountered signal interruption. (PNA)-rir
