State of calamity in 4 Cagayan towns

Due to Maymay, Neneng

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — Four towns in Cagayan have been placed under a state of calamity due to the damage caused by Tropical Depression Maymay and Typhoon Neneng.

Allacapan was declared under a state of calamity due to Maymay and Sta. Ana, Sta. Praxedes and Sanchez Mira due to Neneng.

The Cagayan provincial information office, citing a report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said damage to agriculture and infrastructure due to Maymay alone hit P532.9 million and P516.2 million, respectively.

Two persons died in Cagayan due to the tropical cyclone, which also affected 33,432 people from 14 towns or 150 barangays.

Neneng affected 23,617 families or 82,494 residents of 181 barangays, mostly in the northern areas of the province.

Damage to agriculture and infrastructure in Sta. Ana, Sta. Praxedes and Sanchez Mira was initially estimated at P100 million.

Sanchez Mira Mayor Abe Bagasin told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo that the situation in his town, which was also hit by tropical cyclones Florita and Henry ”is not good.”

He said floods caused by Neneng and Maymay have yet to subside.

Provincial officials said they are still assessing the damage and losses caused by Neneng in 15 other areas in Cagayan.

Classes in all levels in private schools and work in government offices in Aparri, Calayan, Ballesteros, Camalaniugan and Calveria were suspended yesterday due to inclement weather caused by Typhoon Obet.

The Department of Agriculture said damage to agriculture due to Maymay and Neneng increased to P427.77 million as of yesterday.

P12.2 million DSWD aid

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed food and non-food items worth P12.2 million to local government units (LGUs) hardest hit by Neneng.

The DSWD said the supply augmentation project was conducted for LGUs in Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras.

The department’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center said 163 families or 578 persons remained in 12 evacuation centers as of Wednesday. Another group of 308 families or 1,111 people were staying with their relatives or friends.

The DSWD said it has P845 million in standby funds, P327 million worth of family food packs and P678 million of food and non-food items. – Rainier Allan Ronda, Danessa Rivera