SAN FERNANDO CITY–With many of the roads devastated, agriculture in shambles and houses wrecked, the Ilocos Region may not be the same again after the wrath of heavy rains spawned by Typhoon “Pepeng”.

A report of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) dated October 15 identified the damages suffered of the region’s infrastructure, i.e., roads, bridges, irrigation, flood control, etc., and crops, schools and housing.

A total of 101 people died from the flood, 51 in Pangasinan due to drowning, 47 in La Union, two in Ilocos Norte and one in Ilocos Sur.

The flooding from the heavy rainfall was aggravated by the release of water from the San Roque Dam.

The dike in Rosales, Pangasinan also collapsed which contributed to the massive flooding of the town that swamped SM City Rosales Mall.

The Viray-Dipalo Dike in Tayug also collaped, causing the flooding of 21 barangays.

The Ambayaoan Bridge in San Nicolas also collapsed.

Floodwater, erosion and landslide wrought havoc to infrastructures and flood control, costing P906.73 million, the biggest casualty of which was the Agat Bridge across the Bued River connecting Sison, Pangasinan and Rosario, La Union.

Damage to irrigation facilities was also heavy at P916.60 million and schools at P190,28. million, including another P75 million to instructional materials, furniture and computers.

Damage to agricultural crops, such as rice and corn, high-value commercial crops, livestock and fisheries amounted to P7.20 Billion, all of which indicate possible shortage of food in the Ilocos in the coming days.

There were 2,725 houses totally damaged and 71,256 others partially damaged in 73 towns (23 in Ilocos Sur, 21 in Ilocos Norte, 16 in La Union and 13 in Pangasinan) in the region.

The OCD report, signed by Regional Director Eugene Cabrera, indicate that roadway along the Manila North Road at Caruan Section in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte is still under water but is passable to all types of motor vehicles.—LM

Back to Homepage