THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday reported another fatality due to the combined effects of tropical cyclones “Crising,” “Dante,” and “Emong” and the southwest monsoon.
The additional fatality, from the Ilocos region, brought to 38 the death toll from the weather disturbances, the NDRRMC said.
The 37 other deaths were from National Capital Region or NCR (nine), Calabarzon (eight), Western Visayas (six), Cordillera Administrative Region or CAR (three), Negros Island Region (three), Northern Mindanao (three), Central Luzon (two), Mimaropa (one), Davao (one) and Caraga (one).
The NDRRMC said eight people remained l missing — three in Western Visayas and two each in CAR and NCR.
The tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon brought heavy rains to many parts of the country, triggering flooding in at least 1,377 areas. As of yesterday, the NDRRMC said, 333 of these areas were still flooded — 144 in Central Luzon, 133 in Ilocos, and 56 in Calabarzon.
The NDRRMC said the calamity has affected 2,365,343 families (8,592,630 persons) in 17 regions.
Of the number, 257,981 families (978,923 persons) have been displaced though the number was already down to 57,091 families (215,530 persons) as of yesterday morning.
Of the still-displaced, 24,771 families (91,906 persons) are housed in 839 evacuation centers and 32,320 families (123,624) are staying with their relatives and friends.
The cost of damage to infrastructure in 11 regions rose to P13.95 billion, according to the NDRRMC.
Damage to agriculture in 12 regions was pegged at P3.27 billion.
The NDRRMC said a total of 254 cities and municipalities remained under a state of calamity as of yesterday — 73 in Calabarzon, 47 in Central Luzon, 41 in Ilocos, 32 in NIR, 28 in Mimaropa, 19 in Western Visayas, 10 in NCR, two in CAR, and one each in Central Visayas and Davao.
It said P954.97 million worth of assistance have been already provided to 927,296 families in 14 regions as of yesterday.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said more than P1 billion worth of humanitarian aid such as food and non-food relief items has been provided to affected communities.
The DSWD said the aid includes some 1.4 million family food packs; non-food relief items such as hygiene, sleeping and cooking kits; and cash assistance under Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to 1,827 individuals.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas has filed House Bill No. 2268 or the proposed “Magna Carta of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Workers Act,” which seeks to formally recognize and protect the essential role Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) workers play “in disaster response and national resilience.”
Vargas’ bill seeks to institutionalize support for those most at risk during disasters by providing a comprehensive policy framework to ensure job security and protection from unjust dismissal and discrimination; hazard pay, night shift differential, and overtime compensation; access to medical, mental health and psychosocial support; protective equipment, capacity building, and training opportunities; and fair working conditions for both regular and contractual DRRM personnel.
“DRRM workers are often first to respond and last to leave when calamities strike. They operate under operate under extreme and hazardous conditions yet continue to be among the most undervalued in public service,” Vargas said in the bill. “The Magna Carta is long overdue—it is our obligation to protect those who protect us.” – With Jocelyn Reyes and Wendell Vigilia
