Paeng death toll climbs to 154; 35 still missing

MANILA, Philippines — Four more persons were confirmed dead due to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng yesterday, raising the death toll to 154.

Thirty-five persons, mostly from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Western Visayas, remain missing while 128 were injured.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 31,204 families or 123,024 people have yet to return to their homes almost a week after the onslaught of Paeng.

The evacuees remain in 1,186 evacuation centers.

Records show that most of the evacuees are from Calabarzon and Western Visayas followed by Eastern Visayas, Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley.

At least 3,452 families or 17,260 of the remaining evacuees are from Maguindanao and other areas in BARMM.

In Metro Manila, 476 families or 1,884 people are still staying in 11 evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC said flooding and landslides due to Paeng have affected 1,176,074 families or a total of 4,124,267 people from 9,107 barangays across the country.

Damage to infrastructure has ballooned to P2.913 billion.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reported that damage to national roads was estimated at P917.80 million; bridges, P523.80 million, and flood control structures, P652.76 million.

As of Thursday night, 24 road sections in the Cordilleras, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Soccksargen and BARMM remained closed to traffic due to damaged pavements, slope protection, collapsed bridge, damaged bridge approach, flooding and fallen debris, among other obstructions.

Agri damage rises to P2.7 billion

The NDRRMC said damage to agriculture in various regions has reached P2.709 billion.

In Negros Occidental, damage to agriculture and irrigation facilities was recorded at P256.8 million, a report submitted by provincial agriculturist Edmundo Raul Causing showed.

Thirty of the 31 local government units in Negros Occidental, excluding Bacolod City, were affected.

In Cagayan, Ruelie Rapsing, provincial disaster risk reduction and management office head, said damage to the rice sector was recorded at P12.5 million; corn, P14.1 million; high-value crops, P9.6 million; fisheries, P2.6 million, and livestock, P250,000.

Rapsing said local government units are conducting further validation and assessment to determine the extent of the damage to both agriculture and infrastructure.

The Office of Civil Defense in Cagayan Valley reported that five persons died due to the storm in Cagayan.

In Zamboanga City, city engineer Christopher Navarro said damage to infrastructure was initially placed at P352. 4 million.

He said the P30-million bridge in Barangay Pamucutan and slope protection projects in Barangays Sinunuc, Pamucutan, Tulungatung and Labuan worth P20 million each incurred the biggest damage. Some P13 million worth of slope protection in six other areas were also affected.

P15 million cash aid

Sen. Imee Marcos distributed P15 million in cash assistance to Paeng victims in Zamboanga yesterday.

Marcos led the distribution of cash assistance worth P5,000 each, assorted vegetables and nutribuns to displaced families. She also delivered assistance worth P5 million for the agricultural sector.

She called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development and concerned local government units to finish their assessment to hasten the release of financial assistance for those who lost their homes. – Roel Pareño, Jun Elias, Gilbert Bayoran, Jose Rodel Clapano