CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija -- Governor Czarina Umali sought on Monday, October 17, the declaration of Nueva Ecija under state of calamity after Typhoon Karen destroyed over P1 billion in agriculture.

Umali, who heads the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), lamented that the devastation brought by Karen affected the government’s effort to increase rice production.

PDRRMC spokesperson Abraham Pascua said on top of the P1 billion damage in rice crops were P87.7 million worth of vegetables and high value crops.

The engineering districts, Pascua said, have yet to finalize reports on damage to infrastructure.

A 60-year-old woman was killed when her house crushed to a falling tree at the height of typhoon in Barangay General Luna, Llanera town, before dawn Sunday, October 16.

Pascua identified the victim as Heidi Maulino. (PNA)