OFFICIALS yesterday said the death toll from Tropical Storm “Enteng” has risen to at least 14 people as the weather system intensified into a severe tropical storm while heading out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Nine of the fatalities were recorded in Rizal, according to Calabarzon police regional office spokesperson Lt. Col. Chitatel Gaoiran.
Gaoiran said five of the victims died of drowning — Arlene Gumarag Patangan, 44; Maria Margarita Cauilan, 46; Randy Ligan Fernandez, 47; while two others remained unidentified.
Four others, victims of landslides, were identified as one-year-old Roan Negro Ondes; Lee Bragado Libanto,15; Lester Bragado Libanto, 12; and Miguel Baranda, 27.
At least 11 deaths were reported by officials last Monday.
Gaoiran said six fatalities were reported in Calabarzon, four of them in Rizal identified as Mica Helen De Guzman Tolosa, Jhazel Mike Bulwan Altarejos, Freddie Organo Cruz, and Monaliza Pateña Dela Cruz, and two in Quezon identified as Jesse Oliveros, 41; and Erwin Cal Nabora, 35.
Gaoiran said validation is being conducted to determine if these were indeed related to Enteng (international name Yagi).
In Bicol, two were reported to have died due to Enteng, according to Bicol police regional office spokesperson Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib.
The fatalities were eight-month-old Fiona Ganila, who drowned in Naga City, Camarines Sur; and 57-year-old Juancho Dumalagan, who was electrocuted also in Naga City.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported three deaths in other areas — two in Central Visayas and one in Western Visayas. The NDRRMC previously said the two fatalities in Central Visayas died due to landslides in Cebu City.
NDRRMC spokesman Edgar Posadas told a television interview that 12 people died due to Enteng in Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas but later recalled that statement. In a phone interview, he said he made the statement on information from the ground and not based on the situation report of the NDRRMC.
“We’re resetting to 10 (fatalities) as reflected in our situation report. That’s our official (count),” said Posadas. The NDRRMC report showed seven deaths in Calabarzon, two in Central Visayas and one in Western Samar.
Posadas said these are still subject to validation.
“It (reported deaths) may not stay at 10. It can be lesser, it can be more because we are still validating,” he said, adding they are verifying other deaths in other areas.
He declined to discuss the other deaths being checked to avoid confusion.
The NDRRMC situation report showed 37,867 families or 147,024 individuals were affected in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, and Metro Manila, with 9,277 families or 39,814 individuals having been displaced.
The NDRRMC said it monitored 284 incidents of flooding in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Metro Manila. It said flooding in 124 of these areas has subsided as of yesterday.
Enteng made landfall in Casiguran, Aurora last Monday afternoon and traversed the mainland northern Luzon as a tropical storm and left the landmass yesterday morning.
Enteng intensified into a severe tropical storm as it left the PAR. As of 4 p.m. yesterday, it was some 165 km west-northwest of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
It is packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph. It is moving west-northwest at 10 kph.
Based on the 5 p.m. bulletin of PAGASA, four areas are still under wind Signal No. 1 — Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union, and Abra.
The impact of winds on life and property in areas under Signal No. 1 is “minimal to minor,” PAGASA said, adding Enteng will continue to bring rains in Ilocos and Abra today.
“On the track forecast, Enteng will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow (Wednesday) morning,” PAGASA said.
Outside the PAR, Enteng will move generally westward until Friday then turn west-northwestward.
“Enteng is forecast to make another landfall in the vicinity of southern mainland China during the weekend,” PAGASA said, adding Enteng may intensify into a typhoon on Thursday before making landfall in China.
STANDBY AID
More than P3.1 billion worth of food, non-food relief items, health logistics and cash are on standby and ready to be tapped and distributed to assist those affected by Enteng, President Marcos Jr. said yesterday.
The President, in his official Facebook page, said more than P16 million worth of food and non-food items have initially been distributed to those affected through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) but the government remains committed to assist and address the needs of those affected.
Marcos said DSWD still has over P65.56 million in cash and P2.60 billion in food and non-food items on standby while more than P480.61 million in health logistics have been prepositioned in different regions to provide immediate services to those who need it.
He assured the public that the government continues to monitor the situation and is ready to assist when needed.
“While we expect the storm to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow, our work does not end here. Let us follow the advice of our local officials and do everything we can to ensure the safety of everyone,” he added.
The President said more than 63,000 people have been safely evacuated into 452 evacuation centers in affected regions, but rescue teams remain on the ground to provide assistance wherever they are needed.
Marcos said more than 2,000 search, rescue, and retrieval assets are also available in affected areas along with more than 1,700 equipment that have been prepositioned in different regions being used to clear roads, restore electricity and make communication available.
He called on local government units (LGUs) to improve the waste management system in their areas.
“I call on our LGUs to immediately act on the waste management issue that the storm would leave behind. The DPWH is now in the communities to start the clearing operations of the affected national roads,” he said.
A total of 767 barangays in in Regions II (Cagayan Valley), III (Central Luzon), IV-A (Calabarzon), V (Bicol), VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), VIII (Eastern Visayas), and the National Capital Region (NCR) were affected by the onslaught of Enteng.
AID DISTRIBUTED
More than P17.236 million worth of humanitarian aid had been distributed to more than 80,000 families or more than 303,000 individuals from eight regions affected by the onslaught of Enteng, data from the DSWD showed.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday led the distribution of family food packs (FFPs) to 107 families or 369 individuals currently staying in an evacuation center at the Jesus S. Cabarus Elementary School in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City and P10,000 cash assistance under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to the families of the seven individuals who perished from landslides and flooding in the city.
In Cainta, the DSWD Field Office-Calabarzon distributed food packs to 198 families or 857 individuals at the Kabisig Elementary School in Barangay San Andres.
From Rizal, Gatchalian proceeded to the Rosario Complex in San Pedro, Laguna to check on the condition of the evacuees and led the distribution of food packs to 128 families.
Data from the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) showed that P17.246 million worth of family food packs and non-food relief items have been distributed to those affected by Enteng, including P16.148 million from the agency and P1.98 million from concerned local government units (LGUs).
Gatchalian said the agency still has over 1.7 million in food packs on standby nationwide.
SARA’S CALL
Vice President Sara Duterte urged her supporters to help the victims of Enteng directly instead of coursing their donations through the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
She issued the statement in reaction to her supporters’ online donation drive to help the OVP extend assistance to the victims of the typhoon.
“Whatever the damage caused by typhoon Enteng, we ask that if you want to donate, just give it to our countrymen who are currently affected by the rains and floods. Any help to alleviate them from the hardships they are going through and help them get back on their feet would go a long way,” Duterte said in a statement.
The Vice President, who drew a lot of flak after she flew to Germany with her family while typhoon Carina was battering the country last July, said it is more important for the people to prioritize their needs and the well-being of their families, especially amid the rising prices of food and other commodities.
“We understand the challenges that everyone faces, and we believe that your source of livelihood is better used for your own good during times of trials,” she said.
At the House, Speaker Martin Romualdez facilitated the President’s order for the immediate release of P390 million in financial aid to those affected by heavy rains brought by Enteng, which left many areas in Metro Manila and Calabarzon flooded.
The P390 million financial assistance for Enteng victims will be funded under the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) of the DSWD.
Romualdez said the financial aid amounting to P10 million will be distributed in each of the 39 congressional districts affected by the typhoon.
“We, at the House of Representatives, have quickly organized financial assistance to help those in need. Through the DSWD AKAP Program, we are providing P10,000 to each of the affected families. While this may be a small step, I hope it offers some immediate relief and helps you begin the process of rebuilding,” Romualdez said.
The Speaker and Tingog party list, tapping their disaster relief funds, will also distribute around 35,000 food packs– containing canned goods, noodles and rice–at evacuation centers in Metro Manila and Rizal.
“I understand how overwhelming it must be to face these challenges back-to-back, and I want you to know that you are not alone — we stand with you during this difficult time,” he said.
CALL FOR DONATIONS
Caritas Manila, the social action arm of the Archdiocese of Manila, yesterday called on the faithful to help the families in need.
In a social media post, Caritas Manila called for cash donations to help provide for the needs of affected families and individuals.
“To help families affected by flooding due to Typhoon Enteng, Caritas Manila is calling for donations,” it said, adding the funds will be used to purchase medical supplies such as alcohol, paracetamol, bandages, antiseptics, cotton, gauze, and hot and cold compress; wash kits such as pail with covers, jerry cans, water voucher, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and laundry soap.
Also part of their immediate needs are food supplies such as rice, canned goods, rice noodles, munggo, oatmeal, salt, sugar, and drinking water; and bedding materials, such as tents, blankets, and mats.
Caritas Manila said donations may be sent through its bank accounts with a uniform account name of “Caritas Manila Inc.”
Bank accounts include BDO (Peso S/A #: 000560045905 / Swift Code: BNORPHMM); BPI (Psos S/A #: 3063-5357-01 / Dollar S/A #: 3064-0033-55 / Swift Code: BOPIPHMM); Metrobank (Peso S/A #: 175-3-17506954-3 / Swift Code: MBTCPHMM); and RCBC (Peso S/A #: 0000003000902216 / Swift Code: RCBCPHMM).
It said donors may also purchase donation vouchers from Lazada at https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/caritas-manila.
For donors abroad, Caritas Manila said they may donate through Myriad USA (https://www.every.org/caritasmanila).
AGRICULTURE
The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center, said crops planted in 2.18 million hectares have been affected by Enteng.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said that at least eight off-grid power facilities remained affected by Enteng as of noon yesterday.
According to DOE’s energy situation report, the National Power Corp. (NPC) reported there are four diesel power plants (DPPs) on standby and awaiting clearance from concerned distribution utilities to energize the distribution lines.
NPC said there are four operational DPPs with ongoing line clearing/line restoration activities.
DOE said there were still no reported on-grid power generation plants affected by Enteng.
The National Electrification Administration said 10 electric cooperatives (EC) experienced partial power interruptions due to Enteng but are now undergoing restoration efforts, including Ilocos Sur EC, Ilocos Norte EC, Abra EC, Mountain Province EC, First Laguna EC, Quezon I EC, Camarines Norte EC, Camarines Sur I EC, Samar I EC, and Northern Samar EC.
The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said only around 4,000 customers were affected by service interruptions as of 6 a.m. yesterday. — With Jocelyn Montemayor, Wendell Vigilia, Gerard Naval, Jed Macapagal and Reuters
