A state of calamity has been declared in four municipalities and one city in the province of Pangasinan due to the effects of Typhoon Egay and the southwest monsoon, but government assistance has been continuously coming in, officials said.

In a situational report issued on Thursday, Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro said the five areas under a state of calamity are Dagupan City and the municipalities of Calasiao, Mangatarem, Sta. Barbara and Binmaley, as of 1 p.m. of Thursday.

Oro said the damage to agriculture from Typhoon Egay and the enhanced southwest monsoon is estimated at PHP224.3 million, while damage to livestock was placed at PHP1.8 million.

The damage to infrastructure, he said, amounted to PHP36.1 million, mostly affecting provincial roads.

He added that 444 houses have been partially damaged and 54 houses were totally destroyed in the province.

Government aid

Oro said the provincial government has already provided 1,313 family food packs, 697 individual food packs, 771 five-kilo rice, and 4,000 family kits to the affected families in the province.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in its report on Thursday, said 34 localities in the province with 89,345 families or 389,573 individuals were affected by the weather disturbances.

The DSWD said they have already augmented their assistance by sending an additional 137,037 family food packs and non-food items to the affected families in the entire Ilocos Region, including Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways – Ilocos Region (DPWH-1) said it has also been providing essential aid using its skilled workforce and advanced equipment.

“The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Ilocos Region urgently requested assistance from DPWH-1 to haul and transport three units of generator sets to Ilocos Norte on July 26, where power outages had caused significant disruptions. The DPWH deployed its one unit of a boom truck to haul the generators from the OCD Warehouse in Pagdalagan City, San Fernando, La Union. Additionally, one unit of a dump truck was enlisted to transport the generator sets to the Engineering Office of the Provincial Capitol in Laoag, Ilocos Norte,” said DPWH Ilocos regional information officer Esperanza Tinaza.

She said the DPWH-1 and the DSWD has been collaborating to efficiently distribute relief packs to the stricken communities.

“On July 27, 2023, the office deployed two units of dump trucks to deliver 265 pieces of roof materials to Ilocos Norte 1st District Engineering Office. Further, it also deployed one unit prime mover with a low bed trailer to provide 2,000 food packs to Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. These materials were urgently needed to repair and reinforce the damaged roofs in the region, ensuring that the affected communities could begin their journey toward recovery after the onslaught of Typhoon Egay,” Tinaza said.

The Department of Health regional office in Ilocos has deployed medical and response teams from the regional office composed of 37 health personnel, and from the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) with 27 health personnel.

The team was divided into four clusters that will provide medical and public health water sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, mental health, and psychosocial support.

Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center also deployed three teams consisting of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical social workers, dieticians and ambulance drivers.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has allocated a total of PHP107.6 million in Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) funds which will benefit more than 25,000 residents in Ilocos Region.

The DOLE has initially allocated PHP2.3 million in TUPAD funding for Ilocos Norte and PHP13.9 million for Ilocos Sur, said DOLE Ilocos Region information officer Justin Marbella. An additional PHP14 million and PHP5.3 million have been earmarked for Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, respectively, he added.

As for La Union and in Pangasinan, the DOLE has also allotted PHP10 million and PHP60 million, respectively, for the their respective TUPAD programs.

The remaining funds, meanwhile, were allocated for workers’ insurance and personal protective equipment. (PNA)