LPA trough damages Mindanao infrastructure by over P1B

MANILA, Philippines — The cost of damage to infrastructure due to effects of the trough or extension of a low-pressure area (LPA) which inundated parts of Mindanao this month has reached over P1 billion, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In a situational report issued at 8 a.m., the agency said that damage and losses to infrastructure in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Caraga climbed to P1,198,653,314.

READ: DSWD: 1.6 million locals affected due to LPA trough in Mindanao

The NDRRMC noted that they have logged some 216 infrastructure damaged across the three regions – 134 of which are in the Davao Region.

Damage to agriculture, on the other hand, reached over half a billion pesos, affecting some 19,071 farmers in Davao Region, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

So far, the agency reported that the weather system has affected 1,567,339 individuals or 471,819 families in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccskargen, Caraga, and BARMM.

It further said that 15,538 displaced persons were being served in the 68 evacuation centers across the five regions.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in its report, said that it had provided an estimated P257 million worth of humanitarian assistance to affected Mindanao folk as of Sunday.

READ: Sara Duterte thanks Marcos for Davao Region aid

Humanitarian assistance, based on NDRRMC’s report, came in the form of food, medicine, and hygiene kits, among others.

Meanwhile, according to the Presidential Communications Office, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has extended P265 million worth of financial assistance to Davao folk hit by the LPA’s trough.

The Office of the President likewise approved releasing millions of dollars worth of financial aid to other local government units in the affected regions to help aid the flood-stricken Mindanaoans.