TWO people died and over 300,000 others were affected by the shear line and a low pressure area (LPA) that brought rains which caused flooding and landslides in six regions in the past days.
The two fatalities were recorded in the Eastern Visayas, said Lord Byron Torrecarion, director of the Office of Civil Defense in the region, in a radio interview yesterday.
Torrecarion declined to give details, saying their deaths are being verified by Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM), under the interior department.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also said reports about the death of two individuals are being verified by the NDRRMC.
The shear line and the now-dissipated LPA brought rains to Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga starting November 14.
One of the most affected provinces, Northern Samar (Eastern Visayas region), declared state of calamity on Tuesday.
Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan announced the declaration through his Facebook page. He said the declaration was made “due to heavy rainfall, floods and damage to infrastructures and crops.”
Ongchuan suspended work in public (except offices attending to disasters, health and public safety) and private (except banks and financial, health and food supply institutions) yesterday.
Ongchuan also suspended classes at all levels yesterday.
Torrecarion said 104 barangays in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar remain flooded as of yesterday.
The NDRRMC said the calamity affected 81,050 families or 307,087 individuals in five regions — Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.
NDRRMC said 16,716 families or 57,669 individuals have been displaced though the number was down to 12,750 families or 43,665 individuals as of yesterday.
Eastern Visayas had the most affected residents with 33,428 families or 133,762 individuals. Of the number, 10,799 families or 36,559 individuals are still displaced.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said P3.5 million worth of aid has been provided to families displaced by the incessant rains caused by the LPA and shear line in Regions V (Bicol) and VIII (Eastern Visayas). — With Jocelyn Montemayor
