THE death toll from typhoon “Carina” and two other weather systems in the past weeks rose yesterday to 39, from 36 the previous day, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
In a situation report, the Camp Aguinaldo-based council also reported that the cost of damage to infrastructure from Carina, tropical depression “Butchoy,” and the southwest monsoon also increased to P4.26 billion, from P1.69 billion.
The number of affected population also rose to 1,317,111 families or 4,839,002 individuals in all the country’s 17 regions, compared to last Monday’s 1,240,090 families or 4,553,752 individuals.
The NDRRMC said the three additional deaths were recorded in Central Luzon which now has a total of 13 fatalities.
The 26 other deaths were in seven regions — National Capital Region or Metro Manila (15), Zamboanga Peninsula (four), Central Luzon (two), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARRM (two), Ilocos (one), Northern Mindanao (one) and Davao (one).
The NDRRMC said only 14 of the 39 deaths have been validated – five in Calabarzon, four in Zamboanga Peninsula, two in Central Luzon, and one each in Northern Mindanao, Davao, and BARMM.
The 25 other deaths, including eight in Calabarzon, are still subject to validation.
The NDRRMC pegged the cost of damage to infrastructure at P4.26 billion in 11 regions.
Central Luzon and Ilocos topped the regions in terms of damage to agriculture, at P1.68 billion and P1.58 billion, respectively.
The cost of damage to agriculture in nine regions also rose to P545.21 million, from the previous day’s P355.6 million.
Meanwhile, the 4,839,002 individuals affected as of yesterday are from 4,227 barangays, the NDRRMC said.
Of the number 246,461 families (1,074,207 individuals) have been displaced. The number, however, is down to 156,835 families (156,835 individuals).
Of the displaced, 27,112 families (108,083 individuals) are housed in 557 evacuation centers, the NDRRMC said. The rest are staying with relatives or friends.
The NDRRMC said 1,779 houses were damaged. It placed the cost of damage at P2.66 million.
A total 118 cities and municipalities have been placed under a state of calamity, including all the 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila.
The San Juan City government thanked the Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. and the Filipino at Tsino Magkaibigan Foundation for donating 2,000 food packs for flood victims.
City officials distributed food packs to residents of Barangay Batis yesterday at the city hall.
Mayor Francis Zamora asked residents who have not received relief goods to coordinate with their barangays for tickets and schedule for of distribution.
“We appeals to our San Juaneños who haven’t received their relief goods to have more patience. We couldn’t release everyone’s food packs to everyone as we’re all still recovering from the floods,” he said.
The United States has offered assistance to the Philippines, “Let me just start by sending our deepest condolences to all the victims of the recent typhoon and to say again, anything we can do to be of assistance, we welcome doing that,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III’s courtesy call on President Marcos Jr. yesterday in Malacañang. — With Christian Oineza and Jocelyn Montemayor
