3.5 billion Pablo toll in Davao del Norte

By EJ Dominic Fernandez and Che Palicte
Typhoon Pablo’s damage to Davao del Norte’s agriculture reached 3.5 billion pesos, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.
According to the final report of the PDRRM presented before the Kapehan sa PIA yesterday by Arlene Semblante, Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) chief and Romulo Tagalo, Davao del Norte Assistant Provincial Administrator, the total agricultural damage from typhoon Pablo and floods brought about by by the low pressure area has already reached P3,561,915,995.00.
Also included in the report are the total land affected — 16,828 hectares, and the amount of infrastructure damage which of P143,819,350.00 which will need P240,822,946.00 to repair.
Some 12,114 families and 48,120 individuals were evacuated in eight municipalities, three cities and 147 barangays affected, the report said.
Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario rounded up the department heads at the capitol on the first day of work in 2013 at his residence to come up with figures to be submitted to Malacanang palace for processing of calamity funds.
According to Tagalo, “Davao del Norte, being one of the largest areas planted to banana, was greatly affected accounting for more than half of the 3.5 billion lost in Kapalong plantations,” he continued saying, “which is why the governor is really eager to come up with a figure to be submitted to Malacanang in the hope of also getting a fair share of the eight to 10 billion pesos in calamity funds.”
He added, “It seems like, we are not noticed that much by the media because we manage well our relief and emergency operations, but the truth is, we are as badly hit as ComVal.”
To address the damage inflicted by “Pablo” Semblante said “the Office of the Social Welfare provided relief assistance from the local government units and the national government to the families who were affected.”
“The national and local governments worked hand in hand in providing relief,” she added. In addition to the response on the calamities, she said “we are campaigning and informing LGUs to be able to resettle communities vulnerable to flood and landslide, especially those living near the river banks and transfer them to an area where they will not be affected during times of disaster.”
There are further measures being done in response to the calamities such as the insurance for land owners which according to Tagalo, “right now P1.3 million is already allocated for insurance and 17 farmers are already processing their claims.”
“As far as livestock is concerned, as early as December 14, the governor received a communication from the department of agriculture that the 8.1 million peso fund had already arrived.”