‘Odette’ kills 1 in Boljoon, affects 70-80% of crops
ONE person was killed in Boljoon town, and damage to property, infrastructure and agriculture was so vast that a State of Calamity has been declared in the town in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette (Rai).
The lone fatality was from Barangay El Pardo, the Municipal Government said on its Facebook page Monday, December 20, 2021.
The initial damage report made by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) on December 19, three days after the storm, showed that all water transmission lines and power utilities were down and telecommunication was not accessible in the southeastern Cebu town.
Landslides had occurred on the following roads—Ylaya (near Dayhag) and Lunop (Cabadiangan).
Also sustaining damage were the Palanas (Pondohan) culvert, Campfranco (Spillway) road and the El Pardo-Nangka access road.
Some 25 to 30 percent of its five mountain barangays suffered “total damage” to property, while 50 to 60 percent of houses in mountain barangays saw partial damage, the MDRRMC said.
Its six coastal barangays suffered less damage with five to 10 percent of the barangays reporting total damage to property and 15 to 20 percent of barangays reporting partial damage.
All of the town’s 11 barangays suffered damage to agriculture, placed by the MDRRMC at 70 to 80 percent of cash crops and high-value crops.
Fifty to 60 percent of coconut trees had been affected while 20 to 30 percent of livestock had been affected.
On Tuesday, December 21, 2021, the Municipal Council adopted the declaration of the State of Calamity made by the MDRRMC after the latter presented its initial damage assessment.
The declaration would enable the local government unit (LGU) to use its Calamity Fund and other resources for typhoon relief.
As of Monday, the LGU had distributed rice and canned goods to evacuees in Barangays Nangka and San Antonio with the view to doing the same in Barangays Upper Becerril, Lunop and Lower Becerril within the week.
The town said it was in need of relief supplies, water supply, and people and equipment for clearing operations. (CTL)
