Agri, infra damage due to rains, floods across PH reach P1.5B

The cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure due to heavy rains and floods caused by the low pressure area, shear line and northeast monsoon that battered the country since Jan. 2 had exceeded PHP1.5 billion, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Tuesday.

The OCD, in its latest disaster bulletin, said the losses included PHP1.05 billion in agriculture and PHP521.91 million in infrastructure in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mind- anao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao.

Some 1,888 houses were damaged while 497,273 families or over 2 million persons were affected.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the

Philippines announced that BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) had arrived at the Iligan Pier, Lanao Del Norte carrying some 358 tons of relief goods for flood victims in Eastern Mindanao on Monday. The ship left Subic Port, Zambales last Jan. 28.