Betty leaves minimal damage in Northern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines, May 31 ----- Contrary to what was expected, Typhoon Betty had minimal impact on Northern Luzon provinces, with minimal damage to property.

Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro, spokesman for the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said the worst is probably over. “Based on reports we received, the effect is very, in a way, very minimal compared to what we projected a few days ago that it was a super typhoon,” he told reporters yesterday.

Alejandro said there were only 5,488 people who were pre-emptively evacuated in the province of Cagayan and in Region 2 or the Cagayan Valley as a whole. “There were more evacuees in Region 6. And in terms of damage, its very minimal and we’re very happy with that, there was no serious damage,” he added.

Alejandro said it was good that the OCD, the NDRRMC and local government units (LGUs) still exercised preparedness protocols and procedures. Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said the damage due to Typhoon Betty in the province was minimal. Except for a collapsed warehouse at the Cagayan Special Economic Zone (CEZA) in Santa Ana town, Mamba said no other major damage to property was reported in the province. He added that there were no casualties at the warehouse at the CEZA. “That’s the only reported damage. We thank God that the storm changed course and is now moving away,” he said over Teleradyo.

Mamba said around 400 individuals from Santa, Calayan and Gonzaga Cagayan who were preemptively evacuate are expected to return to their homes. The governor added that it is up to the mayors if they will still suspend classes in coordination with the Department of Education.

Source: philstar.com