Damage of Typhoon Odette to Basic Infrastructure in Candijay, Bohol (Source: Jean Celeste Paredes, based on Candijay MDRRMO's RDANA) To rebuild the infrastructure of the town of Candijay in Bohol, the Philippines, back to its situation before Typhoon Odette, it needs a whopping 922 million Philippine pesos . Ninety percent (90%) of that requirement is for the reconstruction of 6,924 houses, 16% of which are totally damaged. Candijay is home to 33,699 people living in totally or partially damaged houses. The typhoon did not spare basic infrastructures. Total damages estimated in schools amounted to Php20 million and in basic health facilities as clinics up to Php3.3 million. Damages in churches and chapels were estimated at Php9 million, while in other public infrastructures, as barangay halls and covered courts, it was estimated at Php34 million. Also, total damages to roads nd bridges were estimated at Php22 million pesos. Density of A
I spoke with a friend of mine a few days back, and he told me he is now ready to implement his backup plan – which is to migrate to another country to study a new field and leave all his tourism-related businesses behind. He told me he did not see it coming. Like with all the others in his sector, he thought that COVID19 is a temporary anomaly and won’t stay for long. But now, all his businesses are closed, and his cash reserve is bleeding. Despite the many times that the Provincial Government of Bohol announces re-opening with ribbon-cutting events here and there, tourists did not come by truckloads. They came like summer rain – very few and far in between. The province’s economic recovery plan is ill-advised and short-sighted. We all know we relied primarily on tourism to fuel the local economy despite the fact that the sector is the most affected by the pandemic and will continue to be so in at least 3 to five years based on conservative