NDRRMC: Abra quake damage to infrastructure close to P1.6B

Damage to infrastructure of the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Abra on July 27 is now close to P1.6 billion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday.

In its 8 a.m. situational report, the NDRRMC said the cost of 1,519 damaged infrastructure in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) now stood at P1,593,861,827.11.

Most of the damage, involving 770 infrastructure, was in CAR amounting to P837,813,455.3.

This was followed by the Ilocos region with 597 damaged infrastructure at P724,019,209, and Cagayan Valley with P32,029,162.81 in 131 damaged infrastructure.

A total of 35,327 houses were also affected by the earthquake in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, CAR, and National Capital Region (NCR). Of the number, 34,699 houses were partially damaged, and 628 totally destroyed.

At least 136,612 families or 502,462 people were affected in 1,329 barangays in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and CAR.

A total of 368 displaced families or 1,310 individuals have remained in 20 evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, 14,401 displaced families or 52,028 individuals are staying outside of evacuation centers.

According to the NDRRMC, the Department of Agriculture reported P33,227,895 in damage to CAR's agriculture sector, while the National Irrigation Administration reported P22,700,000 damage in Ilocos Region and CAR.

The reported death toll remained at 11, while the number of injured individuals increased to 574 from 567 on Saturday. 

A total of 29 cities and municipalities also declared a State of Calamity due to the recent earthquake.

Simulation exercises

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said that due to the Abra earthquake, they may conduct big simulation exercises anew as part of the government’s contingency measures for future emergencies.

He said they also need to strengthen the logistic support in all areas so that relief items and equipment could be easily transported.

“Ang sinisiguro po ng ating Pangulo na lahat ng mga leksyon na nakita natin diyan sa Abra earthquake ay maisama sa lahat ng mga kahandaan natin sa susunod pa na panahon for any emergency,” Timbal said.

“It’s possible na magkaroon tayo muli ng mga malalaking simulation exercises ng pamahalaan for that kind of a major emergency,” he added.

(Our President had said that all the lessons we learned in the Abra earthquake will be included in all our preparations for future emergencies… It's possible that the government will conduct large simulation exercises again for that kind of a major emergency.)

President Bongbong Marcos had said said that he is supportive of a proposed measure that would create the Department on Disaster Resilience, following the strong earthquake that hit northern Luzon.

Later, Marcos expressed support for the proposed new disaster response body to be an attached agency under the Office of the President (OP) instead of a new department. —LBG, GMA News