Region 8 floods, landslides cause P133.72 M damage to agriculture; P725.75 M damage to infra

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
March 1, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The floods caused by the incessant heavy downpours prevailing in Eastern Visayas has already bring about damages to agriculture and to infrastructure placed at P133.72 million and P725.75 million respectively.

Reports coming from the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC 8) showed that 21,619.77 hectares of agricultural lands in the Region have been damaged by floods. The province of Eastern Samar accounts for 14,380.48 hectares amounting to P97,668,936.22; Leyte 5,343.89 hectares or a total damage cost of P35,189,213.88; Northern Samar 1,658.79 hectares with total cost of P17,819,850.42; and Samar accounts for 236.65 hectares with damage cost of P865,877.75.

The province of Samar recorded the highest total damage to infrastructure amounting to P282.2 Million; Leyte comes in next with P212.0 M, Director Estudillo of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD 8) said. The province of Northern Samar reported a total infrastructure damage amounting to P118.0 M; Eastern Samar posted a P90.25 M damage; while the province of Biliran incurred damages amounting to P10.5 million.

Meanwhile, in the afternoon of February 27, the 801st Infantry Brigade in Eastern Samar reported that Macabut Bridge in Gen. MacArthur, Eastern Samar, is already passable to all types of vehicles.