Typhoon Maring wrought P421M damage to agri in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN ----- Estimated cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure wrought by typhoon Maring in Pangasinan reached P421.17-million, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Coordinating and Management Council (PDRRMC) reported today.
 In its terminal report dated August 24, cost of damage to agriculture posted P397,177,239.39, broken down as follows: palay, P356,188,180; high value corns and crops (HVCC) P11,589.564;fishery P29,217,995 and livestock P181,500.
 In infrastructure, the estimated cost of damage posted P24M which include the Brgy. Dupo Bridge in Binmaley, Dorongan Bridge in Lingayen and provincial roads connecting barangays Maniboc, Sabangan, and Pangapisan here in Lingayen.
 In fishery, the town of Binmaley, one of the premiere bangus growers of the North, lost P11,523,895 worth of marketable bangus and tilapia in at least 19 barangays.
 The continuous heavy rains damaged by Maring has flooded at least 16 towns affecting 219 barangay, 46,947 families and 233,278 persons.
Mangatarem has been the most heavily flooded with 72 of its 83 barangays underwater.
Two drowning victims were reported while 6,563 families or 33,015 persons were displaced.
 According to PDRRMC, the overflowing of Tarlac River and Agno River as well as rain waters coming from the uplands in Zambales province caused heavy flooding in Mangatarem, the floodwater reaching up to 15 feet particularly in barangays Pampano and Dorongan.
 Aside from Mangatarem, other 15 towns affected include Binmaley, Agno, Aguilar, Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Urbiztondo, Calasiao, Bayambang, Sta. Barbara, Mangaldan, Bautista, Rosales, Dagupan City and Urdaneta City.
 Meanwhile, another fisherman identified as Alberto Fuerta, 37 year-old from brgy. Bayambang in Infanta town was also reported missing since August 16.
 As of August 27, the PDRRMC received a text message from the Bolinao Police Station informing them about two missing persons identified as Carlito Marita, 51 year-old and Rannie Gemong, 24 year-old, both fishermen of barangay Lucero of the said town.
 These bring the total number of missing persons to four and four reported casualties as of press time. (Merly R. Tibalao/PIO)