Although damages brought about by typhoon Egay has yet to be determined, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is expected to declare the province under a state of calamity when it holds a special meeting Thursday morning.
Benguet Vice – Governor Ericson Felipe said the board will decide August 3, for the declaration with the province suffering heavy damages during the onslaught of super typhoon Egay last week damaging roads, causing landslides that isolated many far flung areas.
Felipe added some barangays remain under darkness as electric posts were knocked down due to the heavy rains and strong winds during its onslaught last July 26.
With the provincial board declaring Benguet under a state calamity, Felipe said they can fast track rehabilitating damaged roads and bring relief to the people.
“I don’t have the figures but damages are substantial especially in the northern portion of the province which suffered the most,” said Felipe of the unrelenting rains that caused swelling of rivers and bodies of waters.
Benguet Electric Cooperative meanwhile reported as of August 1, the town of Kibungan has yet to be energized due to the severity of damaged, eroded, bent and uprooted poles in the area.
The power distributor also reported that damages have reached to P11,131,797.91 with 87.91 percent of electricity of its coverage area in Baguio and Benguet have already been restored.
Felipe meanwhile said based on their earlier meeting with Governor Melchir Diclas, damages run in the millions requiring fundings not just from the provincial government but also private individuals including contractors who could lend their equipment in the clearing efforts to restore damaged roads.
“All reports will be consolidated in time for our special meeting on Thursday including damages to infrastructures, houses, agriculture and even electricity, while they also await the city treasury’s report on how much they could draw from the calamity fund. NLMonitor
