THE death toll from typhoon “Aghon” rose yesterday to at least seven people, mostly in the worst-hit Quezon province.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has so far confirmed only one fatality, a 14-year-old female student from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. A fallen tree hit the tricycle the victim was riding in the town.
NDRRMC spokesman Edgar Posadas said the agency is still validating five other deaths, all in the Calabarzon region. He did give details.
The Quezon police said six deaths have been reported in the Quezon as of yesterday, from the initial three the previous day.
The six include a seven-month-old baby boy who drowned in Pagbilao town and a 14-year-old John Rey Ortiz de Ramos who was hit by a fallen tree in Lucena City. The four other fatalities were Germie Pabulayan Salibio, 56, who died of drowning in Mauban town; Archie Toria Miguel, 22, (drowning, Lucena City); Melbert Cori Senado, 39 (hit by fallen tree, Lucena City); and Marcelino Rias Estolino, 50 (hit by fallen tree in Tiaong town).
“They (six) died during the onslaught of Aghon,” said Maj. Elizabeth Capistrano, Quezon police spokesperson during a radio interview.
Capistrano said they are checking with lower police units if there are more casualties related to Aghon, the country’s first tropical cyclone this year.
Aghon was forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility this afternoon.
As of 4 p.m yesterday, Aghon was some 535 km east of Basco, Batanes and continued to move away from the landmass.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has lifted all wind signals.
However, it said the southwesterly wind flow, partially influenced by Aghon, will bring occasional to gusty conditions in some areas, especially coastal and mountainous areas.
President Marcos Jr. before leaving for his state visit to Brunei yesterday, directed the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Agriculture (DA), Health (DOH), and other agencies to continue helping Aghon victims.
He also said the worst-hit are Regions IV (Southern Tagalog), V (Bicol), VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas) and VIII (Eastern Visayas), with at least 12,043 families (about 26,700 persons) affected.
Marcos said relief goods have been sent to the affected areas.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the his department will be able to respond faster and more efficiently during disasters and calamities following the acquisition of 16 mobile command centers (MCCs) that will soon be deployed across the country.
Gatchalian, during the blessing and send-off ceremony for the MCCs yesterday, said the mobile centers would support the operations of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Command Center which serves as the agency’s central information facility for disaster monitoring, coordination, reporting, and information management in times of calamities.
Social Welfare Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe said the MCC Cajipe includes custom-made vehicles equipped with surveillance and communication devices, power supply, and other electronic equipment vital during disasters and emergencies. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
