A STATE of calamity has been declared in the Benguet province.
Members of the Provincial Board have approved the request of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chairman and Governor Crescencio Pacalso for the declaration of a state of calamity during the out of town meeting in Sablan on September 3.
The governor manifested the province was severely affected with the destruction of agricultural products, infrastructures, communication and power facilities and other sources of livelihood.
At least five died, eight injured while the body of barangay secretary Luvina Kidkid of Barangay Bedbed, Mankayan remain unfound.
In four weeks, the province experienced continuous rains brought by the south west monsoon (Habagat) enhanced by tropical depression “Henry,” “Josie” and “Luis” from July 17 to August 27.
Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) teams reported the estimated cost of damages for agricultural crops, livestock and poultry including facilities reached P163,853,360.88.
Bulk of the damage was noted in infrastructures include roads and bridges, waterworks system, irrigation systems, public buildings and facilities, protection walls and flood controls, foot bridges, foot paths, trails and pathways amounting to P100,250,800.
Total cost of damages for private properties include P19, 105,940 and P44, 496,620.88 damages in the agricultural sector affecting 2,871 farmers.
At least P84, 250,000 are needed to restore national roads and bridges in the province while farm to market road rehab needs at least P13 million.
“There is a need to provide immediate relief and assistance to our constituents who were victims of the disastrous occurrence. The immediate opening and cleaning of slides along our major thoroughfares will normalize traffic flow within the province,” the governor added.
As of August 31, 103 landslides and 14 road slips along the different provincial roads were recorded.
A total of 222 damaged houses and 59 partially damage houses were noted with 286 families affected.