'Ulysses' cost of damage now at P12.9 billion
MANILA, Philippines — The total cost of damage brought by Typhoon Ulysses (international name Vamco) has reached a combined P12.9 billion in agriculture and infrastructure, figures from the NDRRMC showed on Sunday.
Ulysses in mid-November battered the Luzon island, submerging many provinces and leaving over 3.8 million affected and at least 73 dead.
Disaster officials in a situational report by the morning of November 22 said damage to infrastructure had stood at P8.69 billion, while damage to crops was put at about P4.21 billion.
Cagayan Region sustained the most damage to infrastructure at P4.9 billion, followed by Bicol, which is still reeling from the onslaught of Super Typhoon "Rolly" (international name Goni) that hit the region early this month, at P1.8 billion.
Central Luzon had reported the highest cost of damage to agriculture at over P1.3 billion, followed by Cagayan with P1.12 billion.
In total, some 34,328 families or 139,866 individuals are still staying in evacuation shelters while 12,829 families or 46,848 persons are being served outside emergency sites.
Ulysses had left 88,713 houses damaged in the wake of its onslaught with 9,763 totally destroyed, NDRRMC's report added.
The social welfare department said it has extended more than P125 million worth of assistance to families affected.
P77.9 million of this came from the agency, P44.16 million from local governments, P2.8 million from private partners and P728,000 from non-government organizations.
President Rodrigo Duterte this week declared a Luzon-wide state of calamity following the three typhoons — Ulysses, Rolly and "Quinta" to hit the island in just a short period of time.
The declaration would seek to fast track rehabilitation in typhoon-hit areas, as well as allow LGUs to tap funds for the said efforts and continue providing basic services to the many affected.
Super Typhoon Rolly, the world's strongest this 2020, had caused the country over P17.8 billion, with 25 dead and scores injured.
Quinta, meanwhile, had more than P4.2 billion in combined cost of damage, along with 27 dead.
Government had since formed a task force that would focus on the rebuilding in the aftermath of the strong typhoons, to be led by Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.
Follow this page for updates on typhoon relief and recovery efforts in the Philippines. Image by AFP/Charism Sayat.
The Philippine Coast Guard says it has transported 3,264.9 tons of relief goods and critical supplies on its vessels and aircraft to help with rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by Typhoon Odette last December.
The Coast Guard began transporting emergency supplies on December 19, 2021.
COVID-19 facilities damaged by recent typhoons should be repaired as soon as possible, Sen. Risa Hontiveros says Monday as she called for additional funding for this in the 2021 budget of the Department of Health.
Hontiveros says an increase in the DOH budget would go to rebuilding typhoon-hit facilities in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, and Albay that have been rendered "completely non-functional".
She adds: "Testing and isolation are two of the most important steps in our fight against COVID-19. Any delay in the restoration of these facilities could be a major setback in our progress. The additional budget means there should be no excuses for inaction."
Akbayan visit barangays Nangka and Tumana in Marikina on Tuesday to distribute food packs to families affected by Typhoon Ulysses earlier this month.
At the food distribution were Akbayan Youth Chair RJ Naguit as well as Miss Philippines-Earth 2020 title holders Gianna Llanes, Quintana Tormes and candidate Iris Marie Mabanta.
Chinese social media giant TikTok pledges to donate approximately P15 million ($300,000) to relief efforts following typhoons that struck the Philippines.
Half of the donation will be allocated to the Philippine Red Cross for their efforts of providing hot meals and other urgent necessities in typhoon-hit areas.
"TikTok’s donation will surely go a long way in further strengthening PRC’s humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of those who were impacted by the recent calamities. You can be sure the Red Cross will continue to be there for the people affected," Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the PRC, says.
President Duterte's chief legal counsel has advised Vice President Leni Robredo not to publicize her aid distribution and to just let people she helped to spread the word about her activities.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, who recently apologized to Robredo for reacting to false information about her relief efforts, said the vice president need not inform the media about her aid distribution because local residents would talk about it.
RELATED: Panelo told to 'get facts straight' over claim Robredo rode government plane to Bicol
"If you are there, people (would) talk about it and word will spread that you have been there. It will reach the ears of those who are appreciative of what you are doing," Panelo said during his television program on state media last Friday.
Robredo has said that her team posts updates on relief operations so donors and partners will know that their help is reaching those who need it. She also said that the updates are to reassure people that they have been heard.
Whenever we get updates from the ground, we share them with the public. It is important to assure those who are distressed that (1) we heard you; (2) help is coming; (3) we are doing all we can to save you.
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 17, 2020
"You do not have to broadcast every move, every help you want to give to the people. Mas maganda yung tahimik lang (It would be better if you do it quietly)," Panelo said. — The STAR/Alexis Romero
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