NDRRMC: ‘Ruby’ damage costs P2 billion

A Filipino man clears away debris from the remains of his damaged home as strong waves from Typhoon Hagupit battered a coastal village in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. AP

MANILA, Philippines–The cost of damage brought about by Typhoon “Ruby” (international name: Hagupit) has reached over P2 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Wednesday.

A total of P2,550,065,744 worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture was reported in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas regions.

The breakdown is as follows:

Infrastructure – P1,277,083,250.00

Agriculture – P1,272, 982,494.00

Ruby is the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year with a path similar to that of Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

The official death toll of the NDRRMC stood at 11. There were 480 persons injured in Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas regions.

Only two vessels remained stranded as of Wednesday, both in Palawan port due to rough seas, the NDRRMC said.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, 1.3 million persons are still housed in 5,890 evacuation centers.

The DSWD said on Twitter that it would set up a hub at the National Food Authority warehouse in Borongan, Eastern Samar, to serve hard-to-reach areas and isolated villages.

The Department of Health has also deployed mental health and psychosocial teams to affected areas, the DSWD said.

Ruby is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday evening.

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