THE damages caused by typhoon Chataan on Rota could exceed earlier estimates, according to Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona.
In a report to Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday, the mayor said “Rota took a beating” with preliminary accounts detailing how the destructive winds and heavy rain pummeled the island’s vast agricultural land and infrastructure projects, including residential areas.
With the destruction of its East Harbor, moreover, Rota is threatened with a “complete economic shutdown,” the mayor said.
“The aftermath usually looks much worse when the details surface,” Manglona told Babauta.
Babauta, who arrived recently from Washington, D.C., was in a telephone conference with Guam officials yesterday, including with the office of Guam Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez.
The CNMI may ask Guam to include Rota in Gutierrez’s request for a federal declaration of the territory as a disaster area.
Vicky Villagomez, the administration’s CIP administrator, said yesterday that there was “considerable” destruction of capital improvement projects on Rota.
She said it will be “very costly” to remove the debris blocking various infrastructure projects.
Manglona said Rota sustained “100 percent crop damage.”
Rota’s prime agricultural fields in Sinapalo “became disaster areas,” the mayor said.
“Our farmers will need assistance,” Manglona said.
Route 100 suffered “debilitating erosion,” he added.
Manglona said the road between Pona Point to Sinapalo needs immediate repairs.
The island’s storm drainage was rendered inoperable, as the typhoon’s “tremendous force” blocked the drainage with huge amount of debris, the mayor said.
Light buildings were torn down and several private homes, barracks and small shacks were destroyed.
Restoration costs will be “very burdensome,” Manglona said.
With exception of its East Harbor, Rota’s public facilities suffered no major infrastructure damages. However, the East Harbor “poses crucial problems” that need “immediate restoration,” the mayor said.
In 1997, the harbor was damaged by typhoon Paka, but Chataan compounded its state of disrepair. “We must do substantial work…and do it quickly to restore this public boat launch facility,” Manglona said.
He said dive shops and tour boats use East Harbor, and if no repair is made Rota is threatened with an “economic shutdown.”
Manglona said a private contractor should be hired to clear the east dock. He urged the administration to suspend any bidding so Rota can proceed with “emergency or expedited procurement.”
