Typhoon victims in Ilocos Norte continue to get gov't aid
2024-Nov-10 08:00
RELIEF ASSISTANCE. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc leads the distribution of relief aid to evacuation centers in various parts of the province on Friday (Nov. 8, 2024). Family food packs and potable water continued to be distributed to evacuation centers in the province after the onslaught of Typhoon Marce (international name Yinxing). (PNA/Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte)
LAOAG CITY – Family food packs and potable water continued to be distributed to evacuation centers in Ilocos Norte province as almost all households still did not have electricity after the onslaught of Typhoon Marce (international name Yinxing) in this part of Luzon.
On Friday, 331 families who were pre-emptively evacuated on Thursday to the Pasuquin covered court, Busan and municipal covered court of Bacarra, and Plaridel Elementary School in Laoag City received aid from the provincial government.
Provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer Randy Nicolas said 500 families, or 1,513 individuals, were still in evacuation centers out of the reported 1,581 families, or 4,733 individuals, affected by Marce.
According to Nicolas, typhoon damage was still being validated as of press time, with no reported casualty.
In Pagudpud town, at least one house was destroyed by a tornado at the height of Marce's onslaught.
"We are thankful no one was hurt because we were pre-emptively evacuated when the incident happened," said Lenie Faylogna of Poblacion 2 in Pagudpud.
At least two houses in Vintar and one in Solsona were reported destroyed, and 87 more were reported damaged mostly in Vintar, Solsona, Pagudpud, San Nicolas, and Carasi.
Power restoration was ongoing in most parts of the province, while communication signal remained weak.
The smallest town of Adams, with 899 affected families consisting of 2,586 individuals, remained isolated due to heavy rains and the swelling of the Bolo River.
Meanwhile, Rochelle Gajes, officer in charge of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, reported that 13,031 family food packs were ready for dispatch to affected families, including 1,745 sacks of rice at 50 kg. each, at the Takuat warehouse and the National Food Authority warehouse in this city.
At least 25 cases of sardines, 300 cases of bottled water, and other non-food items donated by various groups and individuals were also on standby.
Gajes said 7,200 family food packs were prepositioned in seven clusters of the province, to be made available to local government units needing relief augmentation. (PNA)