THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday reported eight additional deaths as the number of individuals affected by the continued effects of typhoon “Carina” and two other weather systems that hit the country in the past weeks rose to nearly 4.6 million.
The additional fatalities brought to 36 the NDRRMC’s official count on the deaths related to Carina which caused massive flooding in Metro Manila and nearby areas, tropical depression “Butchoy,” and the southwest monsoon that have brought rains to many parts of the country since July 11.
Five of the additional deaths were recorded in Calabarzon, bringing the death toll in the region to 10. The three others are in Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) which now has 15 deaths.
There was no change in the number of fatalities in the other regions — Zamboanga Peninsula (four), Central Luzon (two), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARRM (two), Ilocos region (one), Northern Mindanao (one), and Davao (one.)
The NDRRMC said 14 of the 36 deaths have been validated — five in the Calabarzon, four in Zamboanga Peninsula, two in Central Luzon, and one each in Northern Mindanao, Davao, and BARMM.
The number of affected population increased yesterday morning to 1,240,090 families or 4,553,752 individuals from 3,854 barangays in all the country’s 17 regions, compared to 971,667 families or 3,628,500 affected individuals as of Sunday morning.
More half of those affected are in Central Luzon where 840,191 families or 2,837,966 individuals were affected.
It was followed by BARMM with 110,874 families or 552,971 individuals affected; Ilocos (89,741 families or 341,682 individuals), Soccsksargen (53,381 families or 260,767 individuals), and NCR (36,957 families or 146,005 individuals).
The NDRRMC said 105 cities and municipalities have been placed under state of calamity, including all the 16 cities and one municipality in NCR.
It also said 1,598 houses were damaged, at a cost of P2.66 million.
It said the cost of damage to infrastructure in 11 regions is now at P1.69 billion while the cost of damage to infrastructure was pegged at P355.60 million.
DISEASES, TRASH
The Department of Health (DOH) said it has not received any report of monitored a notable surge in diseases in evacuation centers.
“The DOH continues to monitor the health situation among evacuees displaced by the recent typhoon Carina and enhanced monsoon,” said Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo. “There are no notable increases in diseases thus far.”
Domingo said the absence of a surge in diseases can be attributed to the presence of health desks in every evacuation center.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the 695 personnel it deployed for cleanup operations have collected 100.49 tons, or 23.71 truckloads, of garbage.
It said most of the trash collected as 6 p.m. of July 28 came from San Juan City (3,000 garbage bags containing 63.54 tons of trash equivalent to 15 truckloads), followed by Marikina City with 667 garbage bags containing 14.12 tons of trash.
Senate President Francis Escudero urged local government units to swiftly collect garbage and clean up debris to prevent the spread of diseases.
He said the Department of Labor and Employment can use its “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD)” program to provide temporary jobs for those in need while addressing waste and debris management.
“The last thing we want is for disease to spread after this calamity,” he said.
Escudero’s call for cleanup follows his statements last week urging the Department of Public Works and Highways and the MMDA to address chronic flooding in Metro Manila.
It also comes a day before the Senate conducts an inquiry on the massive floodings which hit the country on Wednesday last week.
AID
The NDRRMC said P3.42 billion worth of assistance has been provided to 71,947 families in 14 regions.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said over P228.6 million worth of family food packs (FFPs) and non-food relief items (NFRIs) have been distributed to the affected families by Carina and the southwest monsoon in the NCR, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
DSWD data also showed that as of 6 a.m. yesterday, there were 1.118 million families or 3.64 million persons from 3,581 barangays in the 11 regions who were affected by the twin weather disturbance.
It said there were 65,362 displaced families or 238,916 persons, with 15,933 families (62,305 persons) staying in 418 evacuation centers and 49,429 families (176,611 persons), y with relatives or friends.
The DSWD said the figures are still expected to change as more data reports come in from the affected areas.
Caritas Philippines called on the faithful anew to provide aid to families in need.
“The damage is massive and so are the needs of the affected dioceses in the country. Thus, we are again asking for everyone’s help,” said Fr. Carmelo Caluag, executive director of Caritas Philippines, the Church’s humanitarian arm.
Caritas Philippines said among the in-kind needs of the affected individuals are emergency relief (food packs), sleeping kits, hygiene/sanitation kits, kitchen wares, and emergency shelter kits.
Cash donations may be sent thru bank deposits at Metrobank (Account Nos. 632-7-632028586 / 632-7-632028322); BDO (Account No. 00450803419-2); or BPI (Account Nos. 4951-0071-16 / 4951-0071-08) with a common account name of “CBCP Caritas Philippines Foundation, Inc.” — With Christian Oineza, Raymond Africa, Gerard Naval, Jocelyn Montemayor
