Lando leaves 24 dead, P7.3-B damage to crops, infra in Central Luzon

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Authorities in Central Luzon yesterday released their assessment on the impact of Typhoon Lando in the region, saying there were 24 dead and 50 injured victims.

The report said Lando destroyed P556.34 million worth of infrastructure and P6.79 billion agricultural crops.

“Our final report showed Nueva Ecija and Zambales had the most fatalities with seven each, followed by Aurora and Pampanga with three each, and Bulacan and Tarlac with two each,” said Josefina Timoteo, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense.

Timoteo said half of the injured victims were recorded in Nueva Ecija.

“Lando displaced 329,133 families or 1.4 million people in 1,184 villages in seven provinces,” she said.

The Department of Trade and Industry has ordered a price freeze on basic and prime commodities in Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Zambales, Tarlac, and in four Bulacan towns – San Miguel, Calumpit, San Ildefonso and Hagonoy – and seven in Pampanga – Arayat, San Luis, Apalit, Candaba, Macabebe, Masantol and San Simon.

These areas were placed under states of calamity.

DTI regional director Judith Angeles said violators of the price freeze would be fined up to P1 million or imprisoned from one to five years, or both.

Angeles said hoarders would face up to P2 million in fines or imprisonment of five to 15 years, or both.