AT least 2,318 families or 7,539 persons from six regions in the Visayas and Mindanao have been displaced by the continuous rain brought about by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and Low Pressure Areas (LPA) in the Southern part of the country that resulted in floods and landslides from April to May.
A total of P62.494 million worth of family food packs and non-food relief items from the DSWD, local government units and non-government organizations and other private partners have already been distributed to the families affected by the separate incidents of heavy rains due to the ITCZ and LPA.
Data from the Disaster Response Operations Management, Information, and Communication (DROMIC) division of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as of June 1, showed that 120,702 families or 381, 375 persons from 342 barangays in Regions VI (Western Visayas), IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), X (Northern Mindanao), XI (Davao), XII (Soccsksargen), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have been affected by the continues rains from ITCZ and LPAs since late April that had resulted in flash floods and even landslide in some areas.
The ITCZ from April 26 to May 3 had resulted in flash floods and landslides in Mawab, Davao de Oro, and in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, while flooding was also reported in Palimbang and in Bagumbayan both in Sultan Kudarat, in Maitum in Sarangani, and in Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak both in Maguindanao del Sur due to the rains caused by the ITCZ.
Rains due to the combined LPA and ITCZ also resulted in flash floods in Pikit in North Cotabato and in San Carlos City in Negros Occidental which affected 6,530 families or 22,419 persons from 46 barangays in Regions VI, XI, XII, and BARMM and damaged 48 houses in Regions XI and XII.
It also displaced 262 families or 890 persons in the Western Visayas, Davao and Soccsksargen region which include 245 families or 832 persons who sought temporary shelter in six evacuation centers and of 17 families or 58 persons who are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.
An LPA in the Visayas in May also resulted in floods in two barangays in Batan in Aklan which displaced four families or 19 persons who are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.
A separate monitoring by the DROMIC said that the ITCZ, since May 15 to 27, had resulted in heavy and continues rain that brought floods in Opol in Misamis Oriental; Shariff Saydona Mustapha in Maguindanao del Sur; Kumalarang in Zamboanga del Sur; Tantangan in South Cotabato; Carmen in North Cotabato; Lebak and Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat; and Iloilo City.
A total of 114,168 families or 358,837 persons in 294 barangays were affected by the rains due to the ITCZ since mid-May. Of this number, 2,052 families or 6,630 persons who are displaced composed of 1,850 families or 5,568 persons are currently taking temporary shelter in 17 evacuation centers in Regions XI and BARMM while 202 families or 1,062 persons are staying with families or friends.
A total of 388 houses were damaged in the affected regions.
A total of 62.494 million worth of family food packs and non-food relief items from the DSWD, local government units and non-government organization and other private partners have already been distributed to the families affected by the separate incidents of heavy rains due to the ITCZ and LPA.
