LA UNION DECLARES STATE OF CALAMITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF “OMPONG”
[wp-svg-icons icon="user" wrap="span"] By: Jiroh Joy D. Marbella, Justin Paul D. Marbella | [wp-svg-icons icon="calendar" wrap="span"] Date: September 18, 2018
The Province of La Union issued the declaration of State of Calamity in the entire province on September 18, 2018 in view of the damages brought about the typhoon, “Ompong.”
Through Resolution No. 568-2018, the province has been placed under State of Calamity after millions of agricultural losses and infrastructure damages have been recorded in the aftermath of the typhoon.
Typhoon Ompong traversed Northern Luzon on September 14 to September 15, 2018 and directly affected the whole Province of La Union raising alarms up to Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 leaving damaged crops with cost pegged at P928,338,267.50; livestock losses at P941, 820.00; and infrastructure damages at P982, 998, 741.66.
While there is no recorded casualty in the province, a total of 111,947 individuals or 29,824 families were affected in terms of evacuation and livelihood.
With the declaration, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) can now utilize emergency fund in providing relief assistance to the affected residents in the province. Prices of basic commodities are also automatically frozen at their prevailing prices.
Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III has mobilized the PGLU workforce to expedite the process in releasing the assistance to the affected families, especially those in farming and fishing sector.
The Municipalities of Luna and Bangar in the 1st district were likewise declared under state of calamity due to Typhoon Ompong while the Municipalities of Naguilian and San Gabriel are under the state of calamity since late August due to heavy rains of the southwest monsoon or habagat.
The Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010” empowers the Provincial Government, through its Sangguniang Panlalawigan, to declare its area under state of calamity after meeting the requirements/criteria set for such declaration after careful assessment, review, and endorsement by the Governor and the Chairman of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
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