Phl braces for 2 more typhoons as ‘Labuyo’ leaves 8 dead, destroys P1-B crops, infra, other properties

CASIGURAN, Aurora  — The country is bracing for two to three more typhoons this month as typhoon Labuyo left with eight person dead and more than P1 billion in infrastructures, roads, crops and bridges destroyed.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Labuyo’s swat of damage inlcuded those in Aurora, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Zambales, Pangasinan and Cordillera.

The NDRRMC said the damage amounted to P1,081,719,037.59, including P358,547,941.93 in infrastructure and P723,171,095.66 in agricultural crops.
The NDRRMC said Ilocos sustained P613,680 in damage, Cagayan Valley P417,998,472.50, Central Luzon P421,653,318.88, and Cordillera P241,453,386.21.
“Labuyo” left at least eight dead, one of them buried by landslide, several injured, and scores of fishermen missing.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, accompanied by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. and other officials flew to Aurora, Cagayan, and the Cordilleras to personally hand over relief goods to typhoon victims and inspect the damages.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development and several private groups and civic organizations also distributed relief goods like rice, canned goods, mats, blankets and clothes.
Binay said the National Housing Authority (NHA) will provide home material assistance to help rebuild homes damaged by typhoon Labuyo.
At least 84,571 families or 383,540 were affected in 666 villages in 87 towns and six cities in 16 provinces.
Of these, 53 families or 203 people are still staying in two evacuation centers.
As of Friday, the NDRRMC said only Barangay Bulawon in Sta. Cruz town in Zambales was still flooded.
Several areas have been placed under state of calamity. They include the towns of Candelaria, Sta. Cruz and Masinloc in Zambales; the entire Quirino province; the towns of Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag in Aurora.
At least 2,556 houses were destroyed, while 17,580 were damaged.
Some 15 roads, including 11 in Cordillera and two in Central Luzon, were still impassable as last Friday. Also impassable was one bridge in Isabela.
Landslide also hit Kennon Road, closing it to traffic for at least two days before it was re-opened.
Parts of Masinloc and Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Baguio City were still experiencing power outages at press time. 
 The latest fatality was identified as Ronald Borja, 27, from Sitio Amutan in Barangay Matawe, Dingalan, Aurora, who drowned in floodwaters.
At least 31 roads – including 14 in Central Luzon and 15 in Cordillera – remained impassable due to floods or rockslides.
The NDRRMC also said six bridges, five in Central Luzon, remained impassable. Bridges in Isabela, Quirino and Cagayan are now passable.
Power outages are being experienced in Zambales, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City.
However, communications remain cut off in Dipaculao, Dinalungan and Casiguran in Aurora.
Still flooded at press time were three barangays in Carangalan in Nueva Ecija; one in Dinalupihan in Bataan; 15 in Masantol in Pampanga;  four in Candaba and San Simon in Pampanga.