ILOCOS Norte officials on Friday declared the province under a state of calamity after the strong winds and heavy rain accompanying Typhoon “Lawin” destroyed more than P673.49 million worth of crops, roads, bridges and dikes.
The provincial council of Cagayan was also set to declare the province under a state of calamity once the board is convened.
Disaster officials in Ilocos Norte said infrastructure, agriculture and livestock bore the brunt of the damage.
Officials said seven people were confirmed dead while five others were being validated, adding all the casualties were from the Cordillera Administrative Region.
At least 2,450 families or 8, 757 individuals who evacuated to safer ground before Typhoon “Lawin” made landfall in Cagayan province are now back to their homes.
Some 8,940 families or 40,644 individuals in 195 villages in 28 towns in Cagayan were affected by the typhoon.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri called for the sustained release of food and farm inputs to the victims of Typhoons “Karen” and “Lawin.”
He also called on the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. and the Science and Agriculture Departments to adopt weather-triggered insurance.
“The victims need food and non-food aid,” he said.
“Many farmers can only plant when the weather is right.”
Weathermen on Friday forecast fair weather in Northern Luzon and the rest of the country this weekend until Tuesday. With Florante S. Solmerin and Macon Ramos-Araneta
