‘Goring‘ exits PH; agriculture, infra damages reach P230m

Super typhoon “Goring” continued to maintain strength while approaching the northwestern boundary of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Thursday afternoon, leaving behind at least P230.27 million in infrastructure and agriculture damage.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 remained raised over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, northern portion of Apayao (Luna, Santa Marcela, Calanasan), and the northwestern portion of Cagayan (Pamplona, Claveria, Ballesteros, Abulug, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes).

Severe tropical storm Haikui, which will have the local name “Hanna,” is set to enhance the southwest monsoon as “Goring” exits PAR. It is not expected to make landfall in the country.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said “Goring” affected 196,926 people in seven regions in Luzon and the Visayas.

NDRRMC data showed that some 35,095 people or 9,608 families are currently staying in 376 evacuation centers in the affected areas.

To date, the cost of damage to infrastructure due to “Goring” was pegged at P41.175 million.

The typhoon also left in its wake an initial P189.1 million worth of losses to crops in Cagayan Valley, the Department of Agriculture-Disaster Risk Reduction Management said.

DA data showed the typhoon affected 3,962 farmers, with volume of production loss at 7,032 metric tons and 11,280 hectares of agricultural areas.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said that at least seven major roads were still closed to traffic.

Public Works Sec. Manuel Bonoan said the seven national road sections that remained impassable were in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region and Western Visayas.

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