QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) –– The agricultural and infrastructural damage brought by tropical storm Urduja has now reached more than two billion pesos (P2 billion).
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Romina Marasigan, “Urduja” (international name Kai-Tak) damaged more than 1 billion pesos (P1-B) in agriculture, and another P1 billion in infrastructure. The storm also placed 18 areas in MIMAROPA and Region 8 under a state of calamity, including the provinces of Eastern and Northern Samar, and Samar.
It also damaged some 20,000 homes, about 3,000 of which were totally destroyed.
Marasigan said that based on latest situation reports that the corn farms in Pilar, Cebu were totally damaged.
Meanwhile, the said typhoon also destroyed a large number of banana and coconut trees in Barangay Biazon in the town of Pilar. Banana and coconut trees in Bgy. Biasong in Pilar, Cebu were also toppled. Likewise, crops and vegetation in Bgy. Langob in Santa Fe, Cebu were also damaged.
A total of 47 persons were reported dead in Regions 4B, 5, 8 and CARAGA of which only six (6) have been confirmed.