Bacolod City – A week after the devastation brought by Typhoon Dino in Negros Occidental, the damage and losses to infrastructure, agriculture, and livestock in Negros Occidental, has reached P605.4 million, and the number of fatalities have risen to 58, according to reports of the Department of Agriculture and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
In a briefing during the visit of Tourism Secretary Christine Frasco and Education Secretary Sonny Angara to assess the destruction brought about by the typhoon in the province on Tuesday, Engr. Jose Albert Barrogo, Department of Agriculture regional director for Negros Island Region reported an initial P155 million losses to rice, corn, high value crops, and livestock in Negros Occidental.
Losses to rice were placed at P69 million, high value crops – P63 million, livestock – P14 million, corn – P9 million, and P22.5 million to fisheries, PDRRMC records indicated.
During the executive briefing held at the Governor’s Office, also attended by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (4th district, Negros Occidental), Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo III, and Health Undersecretary Mary Ann Maestral, the PDRMMC also
reported P427,907,299 in damage to infrastructures, such as bridges, school and multi-purpose buildings, barangay halls, and health centers, among others.
The PDRRMC also recorded 58 deaths, 127 injured, and 58 individuals still missing, as of November 11.
A total of 7,876 houses were destroyed by the typhoon, while 49,382 incurred partial damage.
The Department of Education reported that 134 school buildings were destroyed, while 189 were partially damaged in 36 schools in highly urbanized Bacolod City.
Frasco, who accompanied by Angara and Rep. Yulo in visiting the typhoon affected areas in Moises Padilla, Binalbagan, La Castellana, and La Carlota City, said they were sent by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to convey his message to Negros Occidental residents that the national government is ready to provide whatever assistance they need, until the recovery period.
Angara said the Department of Education responded to the urgent requests of local school officials ,providing them internet connections by giving them an initial 30 pieces of IT equipment, such as Starlink units and laptops. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds)