The province of Catanduanes has been placed under state of calamity after super typhoon ‘Rolly’ devastated the island province last weekend.
The declaration on Monday was based on Resolution No. 583-2020, the damage report submitted by the Catanduanes Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).
“PDRRMC reported that ‘more than 65 percent of the houses was destroyed, 70 percent of the electrical posts was destroyed, an estimated amount of PHP400-million damage to abaca industry, PHP150-million damage to agriculture’ and that all communications (facilities) are down as per a partial report,” the resolution said.
‘Rolly’ is dubbed as the strongest typhoon to have hit the country this year and has unleashed its wrath last Sunday in the Bicol region.
Around 20,000 houses were destroyed while damage to agriculture was estimated at P1.3 billion so far.
Telecommunication lines have yet to be restored especially in far-flung areas. The province is also struggling for clean water supply.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that help is underway and President Rodrigo Duterte has directed all government agencies to focus on the rehabilitation of the province.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also imposed a price freeze on basic commodities.
