INITIAL reports from the Baguio City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) taking stock of the city’s condition after typhoon Egay has pegged the damage done to Baguio City to be at roughly P18 million, along with one casualty.
According to an incident report as of August 1 by the CDRRMO headed by Officer-in-Charge Louie Glenn Lardizabal, the recorded infrastructure damage amounting to P18,403,943.44 in total is across 259 reported incidents city-wide.
The majority of the reported incidents revolved around leaning or fallen trees and branches, accounting for 163 of the total 259, while other reports included electrical problems, flooding, and soil erosion.
As of the report, 610 families were directly affected by the damage brought about by the storm, while blackouts and power outages hit large portions of the city, with some outages lasting for almost an entire week.
The storm also left 14 completely destroyed and 273 partially destroyed buildings in its wake.
In addition to the initial reports on infrastructure damage sustained by the city, the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) also pegged electric grid infrastructure damage at P14.3 million, with P9.5 million of said damage being in the form of damaged or destroyed electric poles throughout its jurisdiction.
Of the 610 families in the city composed of 2,573 individuals affected, according to the July 26 final situational report of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) under Liza Bulayungan, 64 families (274 individuals) were sheltered in the city’s 12 evacuation centers during the calamity while 546 families (2,299 persons) were served outside the evacuation centers.
The city government provided 680 food packs costing P272,000 and financial assistance worth P40,000 while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) supplied 25 hygiene kits valued at P32,500 and P650,000 in financial assistance.
Relief assistance amounting to P95,165 was donated by Good Samaritans, the report stated.
In addition, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office- Cordillera (DSWD- CAR) provided 25 hygiene kits equivalent to P32,500 in monetized value aside from P650,000 financial assistance to the affected families.
P95,165 relief assistance was also provided by other sources, including anonymous donors.
For donations in kind coordinated with the CSWDO, 64 sacks of assorted vegetables were given by the La Trinidad Trading Post which were distributed to the affected families in the different barangays on August 1 and 2.
A total of 250 beneficiaries from barangays Bakakeng Central, Bakakeng Norte/Sur, Sto. Tomas Central, Sto. Tomas Proper and Dontogan received food assistance from MegaPines Realty and Development Corporation and TG Home Builders represented by its president, Fernando Tiong, on August 1 at the Bakakeng Central Evacuation Center.
Earlier on July 31, SM Foundation distributed food packs to 250 families at Asin Road, San Luis Village, and Victoria Village.
The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation-Mobility, represented by Assistant Vice President for Business Dev’t Donald Saurombe also donated 50 food packs to families from various barangays whose houses were severely affected and damaged by the typhoon.
It disclosed that the most affected barangays were Irisan, Asin Road, Honeymoon-Holyghost, Loakan Proper, and Bakakeng Norte/Sur while the top causes of affection were floods, landslides, blown roofs due to strong winds, and fallen trees.
Bulayungan said those wanting to donate relief goods for those affected by ‘Egay’ like food can coordinate with her office at 422-6056 (landline) or mobile numbers 09497809819 and 09196605613.
Cash donations can be deposited at Land Bank with account name: City Government of Baguio and account no. 3552100661. If deposited, send a copy of the deposit slip to cto.baguio@gmail.com. Cash donations can also be given at the City Treasury Office at City Hall and proper receipts will be provided for every donation, according to City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias. – With reports by Gaby B. Keith & Jessa Mardy Samidan
