Ilocos Norte lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure placing the whole province under a state of calamity due to the onslaught of Super Typhoon Julian.
“There is a need to declare a state of calamity for the provincial government to mobilize the use of its 5 percent calamity fund to provide relief to the affected families, as well as to reprogram or realign funds for the repair and rehabilitation of the damaged properties and infrastructure,” Provincial Board member and chairperson of the committee on natural calamities Franklin Dante Franklin Respicio said during a special session.
For this year, Ilocos Norte's local disaster risk reduction and management fund amounts to around PHP109.88 million.
Of the total, 70 percent will be used for preparedness, prevention, mitigation, rehabilitation, and recovery, while 30 percent will be used for quick response.
Based on the initial report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), damage to crops amounts to around PHP84.73 million while it is about PHP385,360 for livestock and poultry.
Two persons reportedly drowned in the cities of Batac and Laoag, and one is missing in Paoay town.
Hundreds of families from the landslide and flood-prone areas of the province were also flooded, and four fires were recorded in the towns of Bacarra, Vintar, and Pagudpud on Monday.
One of the fires was caused by a lighted candle left on top of a dresser made of plastic material while the others were likely caused by an electrical short circuit caused by rainwater leaks, said Maj. Roxanne Parado, Bureau of Fire Protection provincial fire director.
Police records show that around 957 families in the province, or 3,289 residents, were affected by the typhoon. (PNA)
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