Infra, agri damage caused by Seniang hits P644 M

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm Seniang has caused damage amounting to P644 million, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) over the weekend.

The agriculture sector bore the brunt, sustaining P574.78 million worth of damage.

The amount of damage to infrastructure reached P69.76 million.

The farming sector in Eastern Visayas was the worst hit, with P455.04 million worth of damage.

The agriculture damage in Western Visayas reached P102.18 million and in Central Visayas, P12.61 million. 

Other provinces posting agricultural losses were Agusan del Sur (P2.78 million), Compostela Valley (P1.22 million) and Misamis Oriental (P898,500).

Misamis Oriental was the worst-hit province in terms of infrastructure. It suffered P61.8 million worth of damage.

In Bukidnon, damage to infrastructure totaled P7.96 million.

The amount of damage to infrastructure and agriculture may still rise as reports from other  provinces come in.

Previous reports said the number of deaths from Seniang reached 68. However, the NDRRMC’s official tally placed the death toll at 55.

As of yesterday, 41 people have been injured and eight others remain missing.

Critics said the NDRRMC did not relay enough warnings.

However, officials denied that they had been complacent and that local officials were warned about the storm.

The NDRRMC said 543,816 people or 116,776 families were affected in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Davao and Caraga regions.

Seniang also damaged 2,740 houses in seven regions.