La Union, Vigan under state of calamity

SAN FERNANDO, Philippines — La Union has become the seventh province in Northern Luzon to be placed under a state of calamity due to Typhoon Ompong.

La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III yesterday signed a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan declaring a state of calamity after damage to infrastructure and agriculture reached P2 billion based on initial assessment.

Damage to crops was placed at P933.97 million; livestock, P1 million, and infrastructure, P982.9 million.

Around 29,000 families were also affected by the typhoon.

“With the said facts and figures, careful assessment, review and endorsement of Gov. Ortega, it is imperative that the province be placed under a state of calamity,” the resolution read. 

The declaration will allow the provincial government to utilize its calamity funds for relief and rehabilitation. 

Vigan in Ilocos Sur was also placed under a state of calamity due to the damage the city incurred due to the typhoon.

Vigan Councilor Third Ranches said the city government considered not only damage to crops and infrastructure but also to ancestral houses and buildings.     

A state of calamity was declared in Cagayan, Abra, Benguet and Kalinga on Sept. 16 and Ilocos Norte and Isabela on Tuesday.

Mayoyao town in Ifugao was placed under a state of calamity on Sept. 15.

Back to normal

Meanwhile, in Cagayan, the airport in Tuguegarao, which was closed at the height of the typhoon,  resumed operations on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Tents were set up as temporary passenger walkways  while repairs of damaged offices and areas are ongoing,  Eric Apolonio, CAAP spokesman, said.

CAAP said it is also monitoring the airports in Baguio, Itbayat in Batanes; Lingayen, Pangasinan, and Palanan, Isabela.

Operations at the Lingayen and Palanan airports were suspended due to damaged electrical wires and other equipment. – With Rudy Santos