9 December 23-29, 2021 Odette...
NATIONAL NEWS (From page 1)
Damage to agriculture, infrastructures and properties were initially estimated at P2.7 billion, but it could climb to over P10 billion as some provinces estimated their losses at P1 billion to P3 billion each. As the government stepped up search, rescue and rehabilitation efforts, including restoration of electricity, water and telecommunication facilities, international aid in the millions of pesos poured from the United States, United Nations and many countries. But it will be black Christmas for thousands of residents of many provinces, towns and cities which were devastated by the typhoon, especially Bohol, Siargao and Negros island because restoration of power and telecommunication facilities will take more time or up to next year as many power transmitters and electric posts were destroyed and downed by powerful howler. Authorities said the number of casualties may still rise as Bohol Governor Arthur Yap reported that those killed in the province alone climbed to 99 on December 22 and 20 missing with all 48 towns reporting, 13 of whom were in Ubay town, San Miguel and Loon town with six fatalities each and President Garcia town had five fatalities. In nearby Negros Oriental, fatalities rose sharply to 70 as of December 22 as search and rescue operations were stepped up, said Adrian Sedillo of the Negros Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. President Rodrigo Duterte, who ordered immediate rescue and rehabilitation efforts, inspected many areas devastated by the ty-
phoon, approved a resolution placing six regions under state of calamity. Provincial and local officials earlier declared their areas under state of calamity. Duterte committed up to P10 billion for aid to victims and rehabilitation. Vice President Leni Robredo also visited several devastated areas and teamed up with Sen. Manny Pacquiao in extending aid. Other presidential aspirants – former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III sent in their donations and relief goods to the victims. Duterte approved a resolution submitted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) placing regions 4B, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 13 (Caraga) under a state of calamity. “The declaration of the state of calamity will hasten rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts of the government and private sector,” he said, adding that it will also help control the prices of goods and commodities in affected areas. As of December 22, the Department of Agriculture said the agricultural damage and losses brought by the calamity stood at P2.6 billion. Bohol Governor Yap released video showing rampaging floodwaters reached the second floor of his house in the town of Loboc, home of the famous Loboc river cruise. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said that as of December 20, 375 people died following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in Western Visayas, Central Visayas,
Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and CARAGA. The NDRRMC, however, listed only 177 fatalities as of December 22. Majority of the fatalities were recorded in the Caraga region (Region 13, 167) and Central Visayas (Region 7, 170), while 24 were logged in Western Visayas (Region 6), six in Eastern Visayas (Region 8), one in Western Mindanao (Region 9), and seven in Northern Mindanao (Region 10), the PNP said. Around 51 people were reported dead in Negros Oriental, said Adrian Sedillo of the Negros Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Odette packed maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center with gusts of up to 240 kilometers per hours when it slammed into Siargao and other areas in Mindanao and the Visayas, some of which were flooded. It is the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year. President Rodrigo Duterte ordered massive relief and rescue operations, clearing of all roads and immediate restoration of power, telecommunication and water facilities. Duterte inspected some of typhoon-hit
areas, including Bohol and Leyte, met with local officials and informed them of an initial P2 billion allotment for relief assistance for those affected by the typhoon. Later in a visit in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, President Duterte committed to raise an additional P10 billion for provinces severely affected by Typhoon Odette.
