FIFTY-ONE persons have died from rains and floods in seven regions since the Christmas weekend while 19 others remained missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.
In a situation report, the Camp Aguinaldo-based agency said 25 of the deaths were in the Northern Mindanao region, nine in Bicol, five in Eastern Visayas, four each in Zamboanga Peninsula and Davao, three in Caraga, and one in Mimaropa.
The NDRRMC said 13 of the deaths have been validated while the rest are still subject to validation. Validated were four deaths in Davao, three each in Zamboanga Peninsula and Caraga, two in Northern Mindanao, and one in Mimaropa.
Authorities earlier said heavy rains and flooding were caused by a shear line, the weather system formed by the meeting between a cold front and a warmer front.
The NDRRMC said of the 19 missing, 10 were in Eastern Visayas, seven in Bicol, and one each in Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula.
The NDRRMC said 16 were injured in the calamity — 14 in Northern Mindanao and one each in Zamboanga Peninsula and Davao.
The NDRRMC said 149,957 families or 595,693 individuals were were affected in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Caraga and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Of the number, 13,814 families or 50,009 individuals remained displaced — 2,811 families or 8,666 persons living in 78 evacuation centers and 11,003 families or 41,343 individuals are living with their relatives or friends.
The NDRRMC said 4,540 houses were damaged in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Caraga, and BARMM. It placed the cost of damage to houses at P54.89 million.
Damage to infrastructure in Mimaropa, Bicol, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Caraga was placed at P1.13 billion.
Cost of damage to agriculture in Mimaropa, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga was estimated at P243.02 million.
The NDRRMC said seven cities and municipalities and one province declared a state of calamity.
It also said some P48 million worth of assistance has been provided in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region and Caraga.
DAMAGED SCHOOLS
The Department of Education (DepEd) said it would need some P363.5 million to repair 36 public schools damaged by heavy rains that hit parts of the Visayas and Mindanao over the Christmas weekend.
Citing a report provided by its regional offices, DepEd spokesperson Michael Tan said of the 36 damaged schools, 25 are in Northern Mindanao, 10 in Caraga, and one in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Poa also said that as of December 30, 50 schools were still being used as evacuated centers.
Under DepEd Order No.37 issued by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte schools may be used as an immediate evacuation sites in times of calamities but not for more than 15 days.
Poa said the DepEd has received no report of learners who died or are missing due to flooding but “eight learners were reported to have sustained injuries, while 2,548 learners were reported to have been displaced.”
“On the part of DepEd, we will be providing response interventions to affected schools, learners and personnel,” Poa added.
AID
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said some P36.83 million worth of assistance has been provided by government to affected families in 951 barangays in nine regions.
Data from the DSWD’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center showed 149,876 families have been affected, including 2,808 families or 12,129 persons who are still displaced in Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga.
DSWD said 2,636 families are taking temporary shelter in 53 evacuation centers while 172 families are temporarily staying with relatives or friends.
The DSWD said it has also distributed P1.367 million worth of assistance to families affected by floods in Oriental Mindoro and Palawan, caused by the incessant north monsoon.
Almost 6,000 families from 61 barangays in Mimaropa region have been affected by the rains and floods brought about by the north monsoon last December 23. — With Ashzel Hachero and Jocelyn Montemayor
