By Philippine News Agency and Martin Sadongdong
Accessing the areas affected by typhoon "Ompong" is the main problem in power restoration. This was revealed by Department of Energy (DOE) spokesperson Felix William Fuentebella Tuesday.
People continue to work during rescue and retrieval operation for landslide victims caused by Typhoon Mangkhut in Ucab village, Itogon town, Benguet Province, Philippines, 17 September 2018. The number of people killed in the Philippines by typhoon Mangkhut rose to 40 while dozens are missing, according to provisional data gathered as emergency teams access areas struck by the storm. (EPA-EFE/FRANCIS R. MALASIG/ MANILA BULLETIN)
"Ompong" made a landfall in Baggao, Cagayan in the early morning of September 15 and left 81 persons dead in its wake, about 70 persons still missing, scores injured and several areas isolated by dozens of landslide.
The weather remained a challenged for search and rescue teams which have been farmed out by Presidential Political Adviser and Secretary Francis Tolentino to cover more areas.
“What I did is to synchronize the command structure, as well as sectionalize the area of operations. I’m still labeling it as rescue operations because I am not giving up hope that there are survivors there. This is a place where there is water, and water can help you survive,” Tolentino said.
Fuentebella explained the areas affected have different situations and different terrains.
“Some areas are flat land; the others are in the mountains. Access is the main issue," he said.
Although power has been restored in at least 54 percent of affected households, there are still areas that still have no electricity four days after the most dangerous typhoon left the country.
The DOE has released the list of typhoon-affected areas and the target dates for full power restoration: Ilocos Norte (52.42 percent restored; full restoration targetOct. 16); Ilocos Sur (Oct. 6); La Union (77.43 percent restored, full restoration target Sept. 23); Pangasinan (100 percent restored); Cagayan (CAGELCO I with 6.74 percent restored, full restoration target Nov. 30; and CAGELCO II with 0 percent, target timeline on Oct. 16); Isabela (ISELCO I with 86.36 percent restored, full restoration target Sept. 22); ISELCO II with 39.45 percent restored, full restoration target Oct. 15); Nueva Vizcaya (0 percent) ; Quirino (77.33 percent restored); Batanes (100percent restored); Kalinga-Apayao (0 percent, full power restoration target Oct. 15); Mountain Province (0 percent, full restoration target Sept. 30); Abra (0 percent, no timeline yet); Benguet (50.37 percent restored, full restoration target Oct. 6); Ifugao (0 percent, no timeline yet); Aurora (92.99 percent, target on Sept. 18); Nueva Ecija (100 percent restored); Zambales (96.61 percent, timeline for confirmation); Laguna and Batangas, power restored 100 percent.
Fuentebella added that the DOE is continuously mobilizing its staff in these areas and coordinating with other agencies to ensure the speedy restoration of power.
P16.76-B losses
Meanwhile, the provinces of Cagayan and La Union and Vigan City have placed their areas under a state of calamity due to the widespread destruction caused by typhoon Ompong.
Damage to agriculture in Cagayan was estimated at P8B and Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba said that the province will tap its calamity fund to extend relief and assistance to Cagayanos displaced by the typhoon.
In La Union, Governor Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III said damage to crops and other agricultural products was estimated at P933M ; livestock at P941,000 and infrastructure at P983M. About 29, 000 families were also displaced by the typhoon.
Damage to property, infrastructure and agriculture in Vigan City was placed at P113M.
Based on a data provided by Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC), the damages and losses to the agriculture sector caused by Typhoon “Ompong” have already reached P16.76 billion, affecting a total of 636,908 hectares of agricultural areas, as of Wednesday.
In particular, the damages and losses incurred by Typhoon Ompong in rice have increased to P11.45 billion.
Provinces that are most heavily affected include Nueva Ecija in Region III and Cagayan in Region II with P2.77 billion. (With reports from Freddie G. Lazaro, Madelaine B. Miraflor and Zaldy Comanda)