NDCC: Typhoon 'Frank' damage estimate now at P10B

MANILA, Philippines - The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) on Tuesday increased the damage estimate attributed to typhoon Frank, saying that the calamity has destroyed about P10 billion worth of infrastructure, agriculture and school buildings. The new damage estimated was reported by NDCC administrator Glen Rabonza to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In it, he said about P5.21 billion accounts for damaged agricultural products mostly from the provinces of Aklan and Iloilo. Rabonza earlier pegged damages wrought by Frank at P7.5 billion - P5.2 billion covering agriculture; P1.6 billion in infrastructure; P500 million school buildings; and P148 million other damaged facilities. In that earlier NDCC report, Rabonza also said a total population of 3.6 million had been affected by the typhoon, with 540 dead, 41 missing, and 175 injured. The NDCC death toll does not include the casualties from M/V Princess of the Stars. On Tuesday, the NDCC said that typhoon Frank damage to roads and bridges accounts for P2.3 billion with most of them also in Aklan and Iloilo and also in Capiz while damage to school buildings was at P455 million mostly in the Panay region, the Calabarzon Region, the Mimaropa region and the National Capital Region. In addition, he said that damage to other facilities, including hospitals, is estimated to reach P2.3 billion. Rabonza's Tuesday report also saw an increase in the number of affected population - now pegged at 4 million, with half of them staying or had stayed in the 714 evacuation centers put up in the affected areas mostly in Regions 6 and 8. He said a total of P15 million worth of rice or about 17,000 sacks had already been released by NDCC to the Panay region, mostly in Iloilo, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development had already distributed food, water, blanket, shelters, water containers, and purifiers and the Department of Health used about P13 million for medicines. He said local government units had also released already up to P10 million from their calamity funds while international help had also started to pour in including those from the United Nations which now uses its "in country stocks or capability" to assist in the relief operations, and the Interpol which is helping in identifying the recovered bodies. For his part, Agriculture undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras said total damages to agriculture has already risen to P7.5 billion, contrary to the NDCC report which does not yet include the "P1.68 billion damage to fisheries". Paras said more than 60 private commercial fishing boats in Panay Island were totally damaged which the President wants to ensure are covered by insurance. - GMANews.TV