THE combined effects of tropical cyclones “Crising,” “Dante,” and “Emong” and of the southwest monsoon in the past two weeks have affected some 5.57 million individuals.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the affected population — 1,536,381 families or 5,573,336 persons — are from 17 of the country’s 18 regions.
The number grew from last Saturday’s figure of about 1.46 million (some 5.3 million persons).
Of the affected, 207,184 families have been displaced but the number has gone down to 85,977 families. Of the still-displaced, 51,681 families are housed in 1,689 evacuation centers. The rest — 34,296 families — are staying with relatives or friends.
The number of fatalities remained at 30 — nine in the National Capital Region (NCR), six in Western Visayas, four in Calabarzon, three each in Negros Island Region (NIR) and Northern Mindanao, two in Central Luzon, and one each in Mimaropa, Davao, and Caraga.
Seven are still missing — two each in NCR, Calabarzon and Western Mindanao and one in Central Luzon.
The cost of damage to infrastructure in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao remained at P5 billion.
The NDRRRMC said 1,409 areas in 13 regions have been flooded, and 997 of these remained under water yesterday.
A total of 155 cities and municipalities are under state of calamity — 44 in Central Luzon, 41 in Calabarzon, 32 in NIR, 17 in Mimaropa, 10 in Ilocos, seven in NCR and four in Western Visayas.
The last tropical cyclone, Emong, made landfall in Pangasinan last Friday and exited the Philippine area of responsibility the following day.
The southwest monsoon will continue to affect the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Ilocos region and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro will experience occasional rains due to the southwest monsoon.
Metro Manila, CAR, Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, the rest of Central Luzon, and the rest of Mimaropa will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
The rest of the country, PAGASA said, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms also due to the southwest monsoon.
The Civil Service Commission said government workers living in calamity-stricken areas may avail themselves of a special emergency leave (SEL) of up to five days to attend to a sick relative or undertake urgent cleanup or repair of damaged homes.
According to CSC Memorandum Circular No. 2, s. 2012 and MC No. 16, s. 2012, the SEL may be availed of from the first day of the calamity up to the 30th day for government workers living in areas covered by a declaration of a state of calamity by the Office of the President or the local Sanggunian of the city, province, or municipality.
“Those residing or working in areas officially declared under a state of calamity may use up to five days of SEL within 30 days from the onset of the disaster. This special leave is not deducted from their earned leave credits and may be taken either consecutively or on separate days,” the CSC said.
For areas that have not been officially placed under a state of calamity but are evidently impacted, agency heads have the discretion to grant SEL, provided they establish clear internal guidelines and verify the extent of the disaster’s impact on affected personnel.
Agency heads may also consider extending the SEL beyond five days if there is valid justification and supporting documentation.
Based on the CSC memoranda, the SEL may be extended to officials and employees of all constitutional bodies, departments, bureaus, and agencies of the national government as well as local government units, government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters, and state colleges and universities.
The CSC tasked the head of these agencies to verify the eligibility of the government worker to avail of the SEL including validation of the applicant’s place of residence and that such address is located in an area covered by a state of calamity declaration.
Other than typhoons and flooding, considered as emergencies are natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides.
At least P1 billion has been set aside by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for assistance to workers displaced by the string of weather disturbances.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the amount will be used mainly for the provision of emergency employment assistance to displaced workers under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
All concerned DOLE regional offices have been instructed to work with local government units and identify workers eligible for emergency employment.
“We expect the list of affected individuals, who are qualified to be TUPAD beneficiaries, to be submitted at the latest early next week so they can be immediately profiled and be able to start working soonest,” said Laguesma.
For the moment, Laguesma said, DOLE has been assisting the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) by providing TUPAD personnel for the repacking of relief goods.
He said TUPAD workers are also assisting the Metro Manila Development Authority in the operations to unclog canals and drainages.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said some P546.5 million worth of assistance such as food and non-food relief items have been distributed to over 1.8 million families (6.5 million persons) affected by the southwest monsoon and the last three cyclones.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian continued to evacuation centers. He led the distribution of relief items in Pangasinan.
He said some 750,000 food packs have already been distributed nationwide and the DSWD has 3 million food boxes on standby.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education described as “fake news” that classes today, Monday, are suspended.
It was referring to the claim of an AI video posted on a Facebook account.
In-person classes have been suspended the past week due to the heavy rains and flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. – With Peter Tabingo, Gerard Naval, Jocelyn Montemayor and Ashzel Hachero
