ROAD CLOSURE A section of Manila North Road in Pagudpud town, Ilocos Norte, a vital link to Cagayan province, is impassable again after it was covered with landslide debris following torrential rains in the area as Tropical Depression “Obet” crossed extreme northern Luzon on Friday. The road was also hit by landslides and had to be closed for clearing operations during the two successive storms that affected Cagayan and Ilocos last week. —PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS
TUGUEGARAO CITY — The cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure in Cagayan province has climbed to a little more than P1 billion following the onslaughts of Typhoon “Neneng” (international name: Nesat) and Tropical Depression “Maymay” that struck northern Luzon in a span of a week, government data showed on Friday.
According to the final report of the Cagayan provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO), Neneng left P474.2 million worth of damage to infrastructure and farms between Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, while Maymay caused P533 million worth of losses in the two sectors from Oct. 15 to Oct. 16.
On Friday, the province, still reeling from the two previous weather disturbances, was once again faced with widespread flooding in at least five towns that was triggered by Tropical Depression “Obet.”
The past two storms caused rice and corn farmers to lose the most, totaling at least P447.2 million in destroyed crops, PDRRMO data showed.
It said the damaged structures included houses, roads, gymnasiums, day care centers, waiting sheds, school buildings and barangay health stations.
Neneng and Maymay also affected 44,087 families, or 153,684 people, in the province’s 286 villages and 18 towns.
Due to the impact of the two storms, the towns of Santa Ana, Santa Praxedes, Allacapan and Sanchez Mira were placed under a state of calamity to allow their local governments to hasten the delivery of aid to the affected residents.
Landslides
In Ilocos Norte province, torrential rains again triggered landslides along Manila North Road at Barangay Pancian in Pagudpud town on Friday.
The road, which links Ilocos Norte to the northern provinces in the Cagayan Valley region, was previously hit by landslides and rock slides due to the inclement weather, prompting the Department of Public Works and Highways to close it to traffic several times.
According to the Ilocos Norte government, the road closure has hampered relief operations and the restoration of power in several areas in the province that were devastated by Neneng.
Layers of mud and rocks from the roadside mountain blocked the same portion of the highway on Sept. 10. It was closed for at least two weeks, causing some residents to hire fishing boats to reach their destinations in Ilocos Norte and nearby Cagayan towns.
On Thursday, the Ilocos Norte electric cooperative said that it could not reach the highland town of Adams, one of the hardest-hit areas in the province during Neneng, to restore power there due to the recurrence of landslides.
Ilocos Norte, which is also under a state of calamity, sustained at least P178 million worth of losses in infrastructure and agriculture due to Neneng, according to its PDRRMO.
Class suspension
On Friday, Obet also triggered widespread flooding in Cagayan province’s towns of Aparri, Baggao, Camalaniugan, Pamplona and Santa Praxedes.
The Cagayan PDRRMO said Obet, the third storm to hit the province in over a week, displaced 500 families, or 1,697 people, in these towns and were forced to temporarily stay in evacuation centers.
At least eight localities in the province also suspended classes due to incessant rain and persisting floods.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained in effect in northeastern mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana and Gonzaga towns), Batanes and Babuyan Islands as of Friday afternoon due to Obet, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In its 2 p.m. bulletin on Friday, Pagasa said Obet slightly strengthened as it continued its westward track toward the Luzon Strait.
The center of Obet was forecast to pass over or very close to Batanes between the afternoon and evening of Friday, the state weather bureau said.
Obet had maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of 70 kph, Pagasa said.
READ: Cagayan braces for third storm in over a week