Damages of typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental

By Jeanevive D. Abangan

Wednesday 19th of December 2012

DAVAO ORIENTAL, Dec 19 (PIA) -- Typhoon-affected families in Davao Oriental, especially in the three badly-hit towns of Baganga, Cateel and Boston are seen getting off to start anew as some are now erecting makeshifts, tents while a few are opening up their small stores to sell few stuff of food.

However, the wide-scale damage that typhoon Pablo made in Davao Oriental can still be seen: totally wrecked houses, warehouses, school buildings; gone to wastes farmlands; toppled communication lines; collapsed bridges and flood control structures, among others.

In a recent briefing of Davao Oriental Provincial Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon, she said that more than P8.6 billion damages to agriculture and P4.6 billion damages to infrastructure (as of Dec 18).

On agriculture, damages to crops are valued the highest at P8.3 billion. Livestock and poultry came next, contributing P296 million; fisheries, P14.5 million and post harvest facilities at P17.7 million.

Though much lower than the damages to agriculture, the infra damages cover major facilities on communications and water and flood control structures. Other damaged infra are bridges and roads, government buildings which include schools, parks and playgrounds.

Damages to government building run the highest, which is estimated at P2.5 billion. Damages to communications came next with P210 million; flood control structure at P190 million; bridges at P178 million; water facilities, P150 million and roads at P105 million.

The Davao Oriental schools division monitored 166 elementary and secondary schools affected in the public and private sectors but it has yet to give an estimated value of the damages caused by typhoon Pablo.

Damages to health-related infrastructure, particularly rural health units and birthing facilities is estimated at P206 million including medical equipment destroyed. (RGA/JMDA-PIA XI)