‘Lando’ death toll: 21 in Cordillera, 11 in CL

Benguet highest in casualties 

BAGUIO CITY — A total of 21 people were killed in the onslaught of Tphoon “Lando” in the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Office of Civil Defense in the region reported Thursday.

OCD-Cordillera Director Andrew Alex Uy said 18 people were also injured and two are still missing from landslides and flooding brought about by Lando’s torrential rains and winds in a period of four days.

Casualties in Benguet were identified as  Leonard Foken Pacuran of Sitio Sipitan, Barangay Dalipey, Bakun town; Jimmy Naag of Natubleng, Buguias; Jonathan Cabading of Benguet Village, Philex, Itogon; Ronnie Lestino of Cruz,  La Trinidad; Alma Lestino of Balubas Shilan, La  Trinidad and Kathleen Lestino of Sadang, Kapangan.

Others were Ronnielson Lestino of Camp 4, Tuba; Fred Gavino of Bokod; Agustina Gavino, Sadang of Kapangan; Virginia Quilang Panganiban of Shilan, La Trinidad; Perla Alpersel Disoy of Camp 4, Tuba; Victorio Isla, Camp Dangwa, La Trinidad; Khalid Quilang Panganiban of Camp 4, Tuba and Edina Bungtan of Ampucao, Itogon.

The entire Lestino family in Sitio Balubas in Shilan, La Trinidad was killed when their house was swept by landslide early Tuesday.

Killed were parents Ronnie, 25, and Alma, 23, and their children Kathleen, 4, and Ronnielson, 2. Alma was about to give birth next month.

In the municipality of Kapangan, two were reported killed: Fred Gabino, 45, and Agustina Gabino, 32.

The two were recovered after they were buried in a landslide in Barangay Sadang Barangay last October 20.

One fatality was recorded each in the municipalities of Bakun, Buguias, and Itogon.

The bodies of Virginia Quilang Panganiban, 36, and Perla Besoy, 18, were found Wednesday at Sison, Pangasinan.

Panganiban and Besoy were in their house in Twin Peaks near Kennon Road when it fell down the Bued River at the height of the typhoon.

At press times still missing are Panganiban’s son, Khalid, Deborah Besoy and Ramon Tumapang.

Meanwhile, 13 people were injured due to the typhoon. La Trinidad again records the highest number, with nine reported wounded: Emilia Codiaman Naag, Yvonne Naag Angway, Mercy Grace Naag Angway, Hannah Palcong Angway, Arwin Palcong Angway, PO1 Benido Bacquian Magan Jr, Mylene Soriano, Christian Soriano and Eljenny Codiaman.

Four other injured individuals were reported in the municipality of Itogon: Manuel Pacusan Ojas, Kenard Lukas, Ricardo Palay Wayaway, and Glen Tinongdan.

Meanwhile, 6 have been reported missing.

Uy said in a report 11 houses in Benguet were totally damaged while five were partially damaged.

Flash floods were reported in barangays Pico, Puguis, Wangal and Buyagan, La Trinidad, Benguet.

A series of landslides happened at barangays Cruz, Ambiong, Alapang and Longlong, Camp Bado Dangwa, Tawang,La Trinidad, Benguet.

Killed in Baguio were Daphne Dianne Tucay and Vanessa Tucay, both of Quezon Hill.

Casualties in Ifugao were named as Antonio H. Pallay, Reginald G. Basilio and Greg Lindawan, all of Tinoc town.

In Abra, the lone casualties was Ryan Bignay of Tineg town.

Citing Department of Agriculture figures, Uy placed the initial amount of damage to agriculture in Cordillera at P34,558,433.17 in the sectors of rice, corn and high-value crops.

“We expect this figure to increase because this is only an initial number and some provinces have not yet completed their assessment on damage to crops,” Uy said.

Add to that the road network damage of P4.262 million reported by the Department of Public Works and Highways and the P1.202 million damage in fish cages and ponds in Apayao, Benguet, and Kalinga, the OCD has rounded off the total damage caused by the typhoon in CAR at over P40 million.

11 die in Central Luzon

In Central Luzon, the death toll climbed to 11 Thursday, with four new fatalities being minors.

OCD-Region 3 Assistant Director Nigel Lontoc said the latest reported fatalities were aged between 11 and 17 and reportedly died of drowning and snakebite.

Lontoc identified the four as Jerome Rodriguez Canapi, 17, whose bloated body was found floating in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija; drowning victims Leonardo Cinco, 11, in Casiguran, Aurora and Stephanie Manila, 12, in Sta. Cruz, Zambales; and Josie Reyes, 12, of Arayat, Pampanga, who died of a snakebite.

Power restoration

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines reported Thursday restoration of electricity service in Pangasinan.

NGCP spokesperson Lilibeth Gaydowen said that as of 6:17 p.m. last Wednesday, power transmission service was already back to normal operating conditions in the franchise area covering Labrador, Sual, Alaminos, Mabini, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Agno, Bani, Anda, and Bolinao in Pangasinan.

8 more Central Luzon fatalities

Eight more individuals, including two farmers trying to rescue their carabaos, drowned at the height of typhoon Lando, a regional police report disclosed.

Farmers Mario Abesamis, 58, and Pedro Suarez , 65, were both found dead in Sitio Labney, Barangay Pias and Barangay Padolina, Gen. Tino, Nueva Ecija. Neighbors said the victims were swept away by strong currents.

In Sta. Cruz, Zambales, a young girl was rescued from raging flood waters although her grandmother drowned.

Two other Sta. Cruz residents, Edward Pinasen,23 and Estefanny Manila, 13 also perished after their residence was washed away by flood waters.

The other cadavers were recovered by rescue teams in Masinloc, Zambales, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija and and Santa Maria, Bulacan.

La Union damage

Over in La Union, an estimated P214,337,380 worth of agricultural crops were destroyed, according to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council yesterday.

Imelda Sannadan, La Union agriculture officer, reported that some 55.6 hectares of rice plants were totally damaged and 7,760 hectares were partially destroyed.

In the aquaculture sector, fishpond operators lost at least P23, 340, 380.00 worth of bangus and tilapia, due to massive flooding. -- With reports from Jerry Padilla, Liam Anacleto,  Erwin G. Beleo and Mar T. Supnad and Rappler.com