VIGAN CITY—Calle Crisologo, or Mena Crisologo Street, a major tourist attraction because of its old Spanish houses, was virtually empty on Monday, two days after Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: Mangkhut) slammed northern Luzon last week. The typhoon damaged more than P1 billion worth of crops in Ilocos Sur province but its impact on Vigan tourism was what hurt residents here the most. ADVERTISEMENTOmpong’s strong winds peeled off or cracked the roofs of many houses along the city’s heritage core zone, including the former Escuela de Niñas, the first school for girls in northern Luzon. It would take the city a week for business to pick up because work crews were allowed to attend to their homes, which were also damaged by Ompong, said Edgar dela Cruz, Vigan tourism officer. Most guests left on Sunday as the weather condition improved after Ompong left the country.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 17, 2018 21:33 UTC