MANILA — The regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Cagayan in Tuguegarao City was not spared from Typhoon Ompong’s onslaught, PNP chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Monday.
“Ang nakita natin talaga nasira yung mga structures, yung mga bahay. Hindi na-spare yung regional headquarters kung saan natanggalan ng mga bubong yung buildings including main regional HQ at ang estimate na damage ay nasa PHP7.6 million (We saw that the structures, especially houses, were destroyed. The regional headquarters was not spared. Roofs of buildings were ripped including the main regional headquarters and the estimated cost of damage is PHP7.6 million),” the PNP chief added.
The PNP chief on Monday personally inspected police operations in areas, which were badly hit by the typhoon.
“Doon sa (In) Cagayan region, ang nakita natin doon is ang naging epekto ay talagang nagbagsakan ang mga puno, yung crops so seemingly parang napakalakas talaga ng hangin dito. Although yung flooding hindi masyadong mabigat at yung Cagayan River hindi masyadong nagoverflow (What we saw there is that its effect was fallen trees and destroyed crops. It shows that the typhoon’s winds were really strong. Although flooding is not so prevalent and Cagayan River did not overflow that much),” Albayalde said.
Cagayan Valley regional police spokesman Supt. Chevalier Iringan reported that based on initial assessments, damage to houses and infrastructure was estimated at PHP35.3 million while damage to agriculture is worth PHP8.5 billion.
In Isabela, the damage to agriculture has been estimated at PHP1.74 billion and damage to livestock at PHP194,250.
In Quirino, damage to agriculture is estimated at PHP72.64 million and damage to infrastructure at PHP105 million.
Four bridges are not passable in Isabela, one in Batanes and four in Cagayan. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
