23 indigenous people among Rolly, Ulysses fatalities —NCIP

Twenty-three indigenous people (IP) died during the onslaught of typhoons Rolly and Ulysses in many parts of Luzon last month, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) said Thursday.

During a meeting of the House Committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples, Frederick Crespillo Jr. of the NCIP reported that 14 of these deaths were from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and nine were from Region II.

Eleven of those who died in CAR were from Ifugao province, while the remaining three were from Benguet, Crespillo said.

Among the affected IP groups from the region were the Ibaloi, Kankanaey, Karao, Kalanguya, Tuwali, Ayangan, Kalinga, and Isneg, he added.

Meanwhile, the nine IP deaths recorded in Cagayan Valley all came from Nueva Vizcaya, Crespillo said.

Like in CAR, many IP groups in the region suffered during the two strong typhoons, including the Agta, Ibanag, Itawes, Yapayao, Gaddang, Kankanaey, Yogad, Calinga, Tuwali, Ayangan, Ibaloi, Kalanguya and Bugkalot, he added.

Although no casualties were reported in Regions III, IV-A, and V, IP groups in these regions still felt the impact of the two typhoons, Crespillo said.

Among the affected IP groups in Region III are the Ayta, Dumagat, Ilongot, Alta, Kankanaey, Bago, Ibaloi, and Abelling, while in Region IV-A are the Dumagat, Aeta, and Badjao.

IP groups in Region V were mostly affected during Super Typhoon Rolly, Crespillo said, including the Agta Tabangnon, Agta Cimaron, Agtay Taboy, Ati, Kabihug, and Dumagat.

In response to the impact of the two strong typhoons, Crespillo said the local government units in the affected areas immediately provided evacuation centers  as well as food and clothes to the displaced families.

They also immediately moved to restore the power and potable water supply in the affected areas, and cleared the roads connecting provinces.

"The NCIP was able to provide financial assistance under its program, yung support to displaced IPs due to calamities in the amount of P400,000," Crespillo said.

This amount, he said, was divided among Region V (P150,000), IV-A (P50,000), IV-B (P100,000), and II (P100,000) and benefitted a total of 12,342 IP families.

Crespillo said the NCIP also partnered with Go Share, a non-government organization, in gathering the needed donations and relief goods.

He added they also coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to mobilize and bring these relief items to the IP communities. —KBK, GMA News