By Jason de Asis
PAGASA Weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio points to the eye of Typhoon “Lawin” during a press conference on Tuesday. Lawin (International name Haima), which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Monday afternoon, is predicted to make landfall in Cagayan province on Thursday morning. (MNS photo)
BALER, Aurora, Oct. 19 (PNA) – This capital town of Aurora was placed under a state of calamity late Tuesday afternoon due to the effects of typhoon Karen.
In a special session, the SB unanimously approved the recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) to declare Baler under a state of calamity to be able to release calamity funds needed to assist the victims of typhoon Karen.
On motion of councilor Francisco B. Zubia III which was affirmed by the rest of the SB members in session, they declared this town under a state of calamity until such time that the effects of the disaster have been mitigated and situation in the area has stabilized.
Resolution no. 069-2016 was likewise approved by Mayor Nelianto C. Bihasa.
This town was heavily hit by Karen which brought extensive damages to properties and livelihood in which a great number of population were affected and in need of emergency assistance, including those individuals and families whose houses were destroyed.
Based on the report from the MDRRMO, damage to agriculture brought by typhoon Karen when it made a landfall Sunday in this capital town of Aurora has initially reached to more than PHP53.48 million.
Gabriel Llave, MDRRMO chief, said some PHP52.47 million worth of palay crops were devastated by the typhoon in some 1,076.25 hectares of land, affecting some 672 farmers here.
Llave also said the onslaught of typhoon Karen caused damage to 14.35 hectares of corn farm lands with an estimated PHP874,415 loss.
He said the livestock sector has an initial damage worth some PHP135,250.
The strong winds and heavy rains brought by the typhoon destroyed some vital infrastractures in this town with an initial estimate of some PHP1.6 million.
Karen also totally destroyed 350 houses and partially damaged 2,353 houses here.
Lifelifelines such as electricity, communications and other related systems were also disrupted.