‘Nina’ damage to Marinduque at P1B; calamity declared

Typhoon “Nina” destroys a coconut grove in Bato, Catanduanes province. Such scenes are repeated in  Southern Tagalog provinces like Marinduque where the typhoon left over P1B in losses and damage. — FILE PHOTO BY FERNAN G. GIANAN, INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna — The damage left by Typhoon “Nina” (international name: Nock-ten) to the island of Marinduque has reached more than a billion pesos, prompting the provincial government to declare a state of calamity.

A declaration of a state of calamity enables a local government unit to tap state funds for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

As of Thursday, power and water supply have not yet been restored, while communication has remained difficult in the towns of Sta. Cruz and Torrijos and parts of Mogpog.

“This morning, the province of Isabela arrived (with food and water aid), but even that is not enough,”  Rolando Josue, the chief of the Marinduque disaster risk reduction and management council, said in a phone interview.

The province has been placed under a state of calamity since Wednesday, following major damage to homes, roads and agriculture. On top of food and water supply, Josue said residents needed help in terms of construction materials to rebuild their homes.

A report from the DRRMC in Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan (MIMAROPA) said 1,983 families (8,350 persons) were still in evacuation centers, as of Thursday.

The typhoon also damaged public schools and three government hospitals on the island.  SFM/rga