NUEVA ECIJA was placed on Monday afternoon under a state of calamity following the devastation by super typhoon “Karding” in the province.
The province was declared under a state of calamity under Resolution No. 482-S-2022, which was passed during a special session conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Vice Gov. Emmanuel Antonio Umali.
According to the vice governor, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan found the declaration of a state of calamity necessary due to huge destruction caused by the super typhoon.
Gov. Umali said: “Prayoridad ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ang mga nasalanta sa sektor ng agrikultura, mga nawasak na tahanan, at ang agarang pagbabalik ng supply ng kuryente.”
“Patuloy po tayong magdasal para sa mabilis na pagbangon ng Nueva Ecija,” he added.
Nueva Ecija, which was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5, was one of the worst-hit provinces by “Karding.”
According to National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems department manager, engineer Rosalinda Bote, some P2.57 billion worth of agricultural crops and irrigation infrastructure facilities were damaged due to “Karding.”
Meanwhlle, at least eight people died and an estimated P160 million worth of agricultural products were damaged by “Karding,” who has left the Philippine area of responsibility, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Monday night said.
According to Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Operations and spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Asec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, the eight fatalities include five rescue team members killed in a flash flood in Bulacan, two fatalities in Zambales and one in Quezon province.
A total of 45,334 people or 11,500 families fled their homes to seek shelter in different evacuation centers at the height of the storm.
According to Alejandro, the agriculture sector suffered the most during Karding’s onslaught, with P160 million worth of damage to crops.
“Karding” on Sunday lashed Luzon. It made landfall in Burdeos, Quezon and weakened into a typhoon as it crossed the Sierra Madre Mountain range in Nueva Ecija area.
