BAGUIO CITY(PIA) — The province of Apayao has declared “state of calamity” due to the severe damages incurred from the recent tropical cyclones that hit the country.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Apayao passed a resolution upon the request of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) chaired by Gov. Elias Bulut, Jr. to declare Apayao in a state of calamity on November 9, 2024.
“The province of Apayao is one of the provinces that was heavily hit and adversely affected by Typhoon Marce on November 7 and 8, 2024 which was accompanied by strong and violent winds and continues heavy rainfall causing widespread devastation and damages to properties, houses, agriculture, infrastructure and resulting in the disruption of critical lifelines in the province” the resolution stated.
According to the PDRRMC, typhoon Marce brought havoc and caused severe damages to the agricultural crops in the province such as corn, palay, cassava, banana, coconuts, and other plantations of vegetables and fruit-bearing trees.
The poultry and livestock industry was also affected. There were also reported flash floods of aqua farms and fisheries while several soil erosion caused major road networks to close.
Initial report of the Apayao PDRRMC Emergency Operations Center showed more than 13,000 families or 49,398 individuals were adversely affected by Marce.
There were 4,769 reported partially damaged houses and 66 totally damaged houses across the province.
Damage to agricultural crops, livestock and poultry was estimated close to P20 million while infrastructure and critical point facilities which includes educational, health and social welfare damages reached more P11.3 million.
Despite the damages particularly in infrastructure and properties, there was no casualty related to the typhoon.
Prior to typhoon Marce, severe tropical storms Kristine and Leon also affected the province.
The declaration of the state of calamity will authorize the utilization of available funds of the province particularly the Quick Response Fund and the DRRM Fund for post-disaster relief and rehabilitation operations and disaster management measures.
This will hasten the relief operations, rehabilitation and restoration efforts of barangays, municipalities and the provincial government, with the assistance of the concerned national line agencies, and other concerned humanitarian assistance groups, to the other typhoon-hit areas of Apayao. (JDP/RMC-PIA CAR)
