‘Marce’ damage to infra, agri in Aklan at P73M

The damage caused by Typhoon storm Marce (international name Tokage) to infrastructure and agricultural crops in Aklan are placed at P73.952 million, according to consolidated damage assessment report of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). 

Aklan was badly hit in agriculture having P69.747 million in damages and at least 4,600 persons in 12 towns were affected by the typhoon.

More than 1,000 families were also directly affected by Marce. There have been two fatalities and five were injured in the towns of Banga and New Washington.

The typhoon also badly damaged P58,876,400 worth of farm crops in Banga and P7,213,845 of agricultural crops in New Washington.

The Office of Provincial Agriculturist recorded 212 hectares of rice fields affected by typhoon in six towns in Aklan.  

The local government of Ibajay also reported P1.084 million worth of damages in agriculture while the capital town of Kalibo incurred P1.395 million. 

The typhoon also partly damaged P4 M worth of revetment wall in Bulwang in Numancia and P55,000 worth of cottages in coastal barangay of Jawili in Tangalan. 

Sixty four houses were partially damaged in Balete, Banga, Tangalan, Nabas, New Washington, Lezo, Kalibo and Batan while seven houses were totally destroyed in Kalibo, Balete, Banga and Tangalan. 

Five were also rescued after their motorized banca capsized off the shore of Kalibo. Some 100 residents living along the shoreline of New Washington and Aklan river in Kalibo take refuge in evacuation centers due to typhoon. 

There were reports also of flooded areas in Ibajay and made roads temporarily impassable for trucks and buses to Caticlan during heavy rains. 

Last week, the province of Aklan and parts of Luzon and Visayas were placed under signal number 2 by the state weather bureau PAGASA.

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL