CABARROGUIS, Quirino — Following its neighbors in the region, Quirino on Monday also declared the province under a state of calamity due to the PHP200-million damage to its agricultural crops and infrastructure facilities caused by the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong over the weekend.
Quirino Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Susie Leal told reporters here on Tuesday that the provincial board members were convinced that the province needs the calamity fund to help the affected residents, particularly the farmers.
“The data would even increase as we gather and validate reports from the barangays. We will issue on Friday (September 21) a final damage report,” she said.
The typhoon destroyed about PHP154 million worth of agricultural crops, mostly palay and corn; farm-to-market roads and bridges — PHP98 million; government infrastructure facilities — PHP188,000 and irrigation facilities — PHP3,000, the PDRRMO report showed.
The data also showed 76 damaged houses and 2,000 families or 9,523 people affected. Some 1,050 food packs have so far been distributed by the provincial government.
Leal said they are now preparing to give more assistance to the typhoon-affected villagers. (Bill Visaya/PNA)