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🇵🇭 Philippines /Disasters & Emergencies

Zambales declares state of calamity after storm damage tops P591 million

From PhilStar · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Zambales province declared a state of calamity after flooding and heavy rains caused over P591 million in damages to infrastructure and agriculture.
  • The declaration aims to facilitate coordinated provincial-level response, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts.
  • The damages include P569.26 million in government infrastructure, particularly breached river dikes and collapsed revetments, and over P23.81 million in agricultural losses.

Zambales province has declared a state of calamity following two weeks of heavy rains and flooding that devastated local infrastructure and agriculture, causing damages exceeding P591 million. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recommended the emergency declaration, citing the destruction of critical infrastructure that has hampered access and aid delivery to affected communities.

the destruction of critical and lifeline infrastructure has curtailed accessibility and the delivery of essential assistance to affected communities in the province, and that the magnitude and geographic spread of impacts “warrant coordinated provincial-level intervention.”

— Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management CouncilExplaining the need for the state of calamity declaration.

The declaration is intended to bolster province-wide coordination for response, recovery, and rehabilitation. It will enable government offices and local government units to implement necessary recovery and rehabilitation programs. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that government infrastructure sustained the most significant losses, amounting to P569.26 million. This includes extensive damage to river dikes and revetments along major rivers like Bucao and Sto. Tomas.

warrant coordinated provincial-level intervention.

— Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management CouncilJustifying the emergency declaration due to the scale of damage.

Specifically, seven sections of the Bucao River dike in Botolan were completely destroyed, and six breaches occurred along slope protection projects in Masinloc, Cabangan, and Botolan. The Department of Public Works and Highways estimated the repair cost for these structures at P1.28 billion. In addition to infrastructure, agricultural losses reached over P23.81 million, affecting 1,498 farmers and 892.3 hectares of farming and fishery facilities. These losses encompass crops, fisheries, livestock, and farm machinery.

boost province-wide coordination of response, recovery and rehabilitation measures, and allow government offices and local government units implement appropriate recovery and rehabilitation programs.

— Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management CouncilDescribing the purpose and benefits of the state of calamity declaration.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by PhilStar in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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