Ilocos suffers P441M in damage due to intensified monsoon rains

MORE THAN P441 million worth of damages due to weeks of monsoon rains intensified by tropical depressions and storms were reported by the Ilocos Norte Provincial Resiliency Office. The total covers agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and infrastructure. In a statement from the provincial media office, Lilian Rin, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said food-for-work, cash-for-work, and self-employment assistance programs are available for the more than 10,300 families affected. “We have also identified landslide victims with damaged houses for emergency shelter assistance (ESA),” Ms. Rin added.
AGRICULTURE
MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURAL Officers (MAO) in the different towns have also been instructed to come up with a list of the immediate needs of the agricultural sector in their areas, which will be submitted for funding through private firms’ corporate social responsibility programs, provincial calamity fund, and other sources. Estimated damages in agriculture include P71.9 million in rice crops and P1.9 million in livestock. Provincial Agriculturist Norma Lagmay said each MAO should “have a master list of affected farmers in all eco-systems” so they can plan both medium-term and long-term solutions to the damages. “Kayo ang nakakaalam kung sino ‘yung mga nasiraan (You would know who are those affected). Talk to the people,” she said, “Let us work together as one team, with concerted effort, shared leadership, and cooperative management.”