PAF choppers used in aerial surveys, relief operations in Ilocos Norte

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 28): PAF choppers used in aerial surveys, relief operations in Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte -- Two helicopters from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) were used by public officials in a two-day aerial survey and relief operations at the areas devastated by Typhoon Ineng in the province.

On Thursday, Governor Imee Marcos and representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) boarded  the two choppers and flew over the towns of Dingras, Solsona and Vintar for the greater assessment of the damage brought by the typhoon.

The following day, the officials flew to the towns of Adams, which was seveerly hit and isolated by Ineng for a few days, and Nueva Era for relief operation and aerial survey.

Engineer Glen Reyes of DPWH said aerial rounds on Madungan River showed that the dike system of Madungan dam in the town of Dingras had been washed out.

“During the survey, we saw a great extent of damage in the dike system,” he added.

The destroyed dike system of Madungan dam covers the barangays of San Marcelino and Baresbes, Dingras. Its destruction triggered severe flooding in nearby areas.

Short and long term plans are now being mapped out in rehabilitating the washed out portion of the dike system.

In order to minimize damage during typhoons, Governor Marcos said that the original plan of the dam should be restored, however, a complete redesigning and re - evaluation of the positioning of the dikes must be done the soonest.

“More or less the extent of the washed out portion of the dike system is one-kilometer,” Reyes noted.

Meanwhile, the value of damages on agriculture and infrastructures in the province due to Tyhoon Ineng ballooned to Php2.5 billion.

As of 1:00 pm of Friday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Resiliency Council (PDRRMRC) had consolidated the damage to infrastructures with an estimated of amount of Php2, 493,698,083.74 and Php89, 919,579.06 to agriculture and fisheries.

It was also reported that the provincial government had already given Php1.88 million in cost of relief assistance to the typhoon - affected residents with a total of  32,269 families from the 374 barangays of 19 towns and two cities of the province.

The PDRRMRC said the relief operations to the typhoon – affected families are underway following the arrival of the thousand food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/381440753738/paf-choppers-used-in-aerial-surveys-relief-operations-in-ilocos-norte