Damage from ‘Mario’ rises to P36M in Ilocos Norte

Fallen Trees in Ilocos Norte due to strong winds as tropical storm “Mario” slammed the entire province on Saturday. Contributed photo by Joemar Tolentino

MANILA, Philippines—The damage to agriculture and infrastructure in Ilocos Norte rose to over P36 million as Tropical Storm “Mario” (international name: Fung-Wong) continues to batter the province on Saturday.

Jun Arvin Gudoy, head of the Communications and Media Office of the provincial government, said the damage was estimated at P36,482,788 as of 2 p.m.

Gudoy said the damage was mostly in the agricultural sector, particularly in rice production amounting to P31,410,123.

The damage to fisheries was at P434,000 while P137,500 in livestock, P2,583,665 on high value commercial crops, and P1,850,000 in infrastructure.

Around 1,732 families have been affected.

No casualty has been reported as of 2 p.m. except for two injuries reported in the towns of Currimao and Sarrat.

The injured persons were identified as Thelma Ragonjan of Barangay (village) Lioes in Currimao, who sustained a head injury and Gloria Ganal of Barangay (village) San Antonio in Sarrat, who was electrocuted.

In a television interview, Governor Imee Marcos said the provincial government was trying to reach all communities that called for help.

Marcos said rice plants and other agricultural products of the province were 100 percent wiped out.

During the onslaught of “Mario,”   she said the province was like being inside a “washing machine with lashing winds, pouring rain.”

She said the government had prepared relief goods and evacuations centers but delivery were difficult because some towns were already isolated.

On Saturday afternoon, Ilocos Norte was placed under the state of calamity

On Saturday morning, heavy rains and strong winds battered the entire province due to the tropical storm and torrential monsoon rains.

According to the latest bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Ilocos Norte remains under public storm Signal No. 2.

“Mario” was spotted at 160 kilometers north-northwest of Laoag City with maximum winds of 105kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.

It was forecast to move north-northeast at 15 kilometers per hour was expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday evening.

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