Vegetable sec<strong>to</strong>r,barangay and cityroads badlyaffected by Bebengby Rober<strong>to</strong> C. DejonRoads became impassable,bridges were damaged and manyhouses were submerged by therains brought last week by TyphoonBebeng. Additionally, losses <strong>to</strong> thevegetable sec<strong>to</strong>r are in the millions.Public Affairs and InformationDivision head Bienvinido Matigasaid Friday during a forum atthe Media Center that damage <strong>to</strong>barangay roads in the city <strong>to</strong>taledsome P4.434 Million, while damage<strong>to</strong> city roads was about P1 Millionwhich will include the expenses inrepairs of shouldering the unpavedsurfaces in Brgy. Linao and therehabilitation of an unpaved road inTent <strong>City</strong>. Matiga pointed out thata foot bridge in Brgy. Labrador lostits column while the two approachesof the Labrador Bridge were <strong>to</strong>tallywashed out. He added that theroad leading <strong>to</strong> Carlota Hills afterCan-alo Bridge was among the cityroads that were badly damaged byBebeng.There were no reports ofcasualties or injuries <strong>from</strong> the <strong>City</strong>Health Department but the <strong>City</strong>Social Welfare and DevelopmentServices conducted relief operations<strong>to</strong> 859 households or 4,295 personsaffected by the flood in 13 barangaysin the city.Matiga added that the vegetablePublic Affairs and Information Division head Ben Matiga discloses thedamages inflicted by Tropical Depression Bebeng.production of the agriculture sec<strong>to</strong>rof the city lost big because vegetablesare considered high value crops. Healso said that since the rice sec<strong>to</strong>rhas already accomplished 90% oftheir harvest, their actual damage isonly estimated <strong>to</strong> cost P439,160.00or 10% or less of the present riceproduction.The corn production on theother hand, has bigger damages thanthe rice sec<strong>to</strong>r according <strong>to</strong> Matigawith P731,230.00 that covered15barangays all over the city.Meanwhile,OrmocWaterworks Administration(Orwasa) reported damageestimated <strong>to</strong> reach P1.5 Million. Itwas reported that the Ahag filtrationstructure was <strong>to</strong>tally damagedby the flood which caused waterinterruption in the city proper andBrgys. Alegria, Batuan, Don FelipeLarrazabal, Linao, Naungan, Punta,Can-adieng, Bantigue and CampDownes. Water distribution inBrgy. Mabini was also interruptedafter 42 meters of the 100 metersdistribution line was destroyed.Overall damages of typhoonBebeng was estimated atP11,419, 039. 00.Mayor Beboy looks on a map of Ormocin preparation of any possible disasterthat might inflict on some areas.DRAINAGE SYSTEM<strong>from</strong> p. 1upper portion of the city that causedflood in low lying areas of the citylike Punta, Linao, and Tambulilid.He believes that most of thedrainage in the upper portion ofthe city is already clogged <strong>from</strong>sand and other debris. He stressedthe need <strong>to</strong> clean up these problemareas.<strong>P200</strong>-M <strong>RPT</strong> FROM <strong>EDC</strong> <strong>from</strong> p. 1of it. He said they “reiterated”the problem <strong>to</strong> the Department ofFinance. Hopefully, this will besettled there, he added.If <strong>EDC</strong> will pay, 40% of thatamount will go <strong>to</strong> Special EducationFund, 15% for the barangays andthe rest will go <strong>to</strong> the city’s coffers.The mayor said that he proudly<strong>to</strong>ld <strong>EDC</strong> Pres. Oscar Lopez duringhis visit here that <strong>EDC</strong>’s tax hascontributed the completion of the4AngOrmocanonwww.ormoc.gov.ph<strong>City</strong> Hall a year ago.This is how the taxes ofthe people go with the growthof developments in our city inwhich the media could help bydisseminating of what the localgovernment did <strong>to</strong> the public, he<strong>to</strong>ld the local media practitioners<strong>from</strong> EV Mail, West Leyte Express,Headlines, Leyteño Peryodiko, TheFreeman and Ormoc Cable.“Political critics could onlydivide us and hinder progress,” hesaid: “Ang a<strong>to</strong>ng merkado daghankaayong kritiko. Pero karon nganahuman na -- nahilom. Kinikay nakita nila kung unsa angkalambuan karon.”Mayor <strong>Codilla</strong> also said thathis administration is determined <strong>to</strong><strong>collect</strong> a billion gross revenues atthe end of this year. The city becamea billionaire <strong>from</strong> 2007 up <strong>to</strong> 2009but missed that mark last year.DevelopmentDr. Capuyan also pointed outthat development in the upperportion of the areas is one of thereason why the water now overflowsat the drainages. “Pero wala man tamahimo ana kay development manisa a<strong>to</strong> city.”He added that the only possibleway that this flooding could besolved is <strong>to</strong> come up with a newplan for a comprehensive drainagesystem of the city.