Benguet under state of calamity as damage reaches over P1B

SCARRED. A landslide scars a slope above the Amburayan-Boneng Provincial Road in Kapangan, Benguet, after days of heavy rain destabilized parts of the mountainside.

Benguet PDRRMO

The declaration enables the provincial government to access P38 million for emergency response and recovery efforts

AT A GLANCE

• The Benguet provincial government declared a state of calamity due to over P1 billion in damages from heavy rain, landslides, and damaged infrastructure.
• Approximately 40,121 people and 13,031 families were affected, with significant losses in infrastructure (P749.89 million) and agriculture (P318.64 million).

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BENGUET, Philippines – The Benguet provincial government placed the entire province under a state of calamity on Monday, August 24, after weeks of heavy rain, landslides and damaged roads pushed losses past P1 billion.

The provincial board approved the declaration during its 52nd regular session in Basil, Tublay, following a recommendation from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Based on a partial assessment by the Benguet Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, damage has reached some P1.068 billion.

Of the initial report on the damage and losses, about P749.89 million was attributed to infrastructure and P318.64 million to agriculture, according to the Benguet PDRRMO. 

Roads and bridges accounted for the biggest share of infrastructure losses at P708.70 million, followed by public infrastructure and assets at nearly P30 million and private properties at P11.19 million. 

Agricultural losses included P317.53 million in crops and agricultural facilities, plus about P1.11 million in livestock, poultry, fisheries and farm structures.

The assessment showed that about 40,121 people or some 13,031 families were affected, while 211 houses were damaged.

It also counted 6,362 affected farmers, with damage to crops and agricultural facilities spanning about 1,315.86 hectares.

Benguet officials said the declaration was warranted after over 15% of Benguet’s population was found to require immediate emergency assistance and more than 30% of local livelihoods had been affected.

The prolonged severe weather triggered landslides and soil collapses, damaged roads and other public infrastructure, and caused substantial agricultural losses across the province.

Benguet Vice Governor Marie Rose Fongwan-Kepes said the declaration followed deliberations on the extent and severity of the damage.

The declaration allows the capitol to access about P38 million from its quick response fund for relief, emergency response, rehabilitation and recovery based on the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Benguet’s declaration comes less than a week after La Trinidad, the provincial capital, was separately placed under a state of calamity on August 18.

La Trinidad had earlier reported millions of pesos in infrastructure and agricultural losses after prolonged rain triggered flooding, landslides and road damage.

The province-wide declaration expands the response beyond individual municipalities, allowing Benguet to mobilize resources for communities, farmers and infrastructure affected across the highland province. – Rappler.com