Manila – In response to the devastation caused by super typhoon Egay earlier this year, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro announced the implementation of major disaster prevention infrastructure projects in the provinces of Apayao and Cagayan. This initiative aims to reinforce these areas against future calamities.
According to Philippines News Agency, the projects will be facilitated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, acknowledging the unpredictability of climate change and its significant impact on local governance and the economy. The need for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Cagayan and Apayao, which are geographically adjacent, was underscored by the severe damage the typhoon inflicted on infrastructure, including roads, bridges, power lines, and essential facilities in health, education, housing, and social welfare. The damage in these areas was reported to be around PHP1.2 billion, affecting critical regional roads and irrigation facilities crucial for rice production in Apayao, a key rice-producing province in the Cordillera region.