Over 3.7 milllion people affected by monsoon, Luis, Maymay – OCD

MANILA, Philippines —  Over three million people have been affected by the combined effects of tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said yesterday.

Up to 3,733,883 people have been affected in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Calabarzon, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), National Capital Region and Mimaropa.

About 53,570 people are currently staying in 553 evacuation centers.

The 21 reported dead – 15 in Benguet and three each in Rizal and Batangas – are being validated.

The OCD said three people were missing and 14 were reported injured.

The government has provided P458.02 million worth of assistance to affected areas.

Damage to infrastructure was estimated at P2,647,707,229 and P347,372,392 in agricultural losses.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said that P235.586 million is needed for the cleanup and clearing operations (CUCO) of 1,195 schools that sustained damage, and for minor repairs of 4,114 classrooms because of Maymay and the continuing effect of the southwest monsoon.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service reported that there were 1,396 classrooms with major damages, while 1,354 classrooms were totally damaged.

It estimated that a total of P235.586 million is needed to cover the P34.355 million for the CUCO of the 1,195 schools with damage and P201.586 million for the minor repairs of 4,114 classrooms.

Non-infrastructural damage include 16,220 learning materials, 538 information and technology equipment and 11,173 chairs.

It also reported that the adverse weather situation continues to affect 5,638 schools in six regions with class suspensions involving more than four million learners and 168,493 DepEd personnel.

A total of 766 classrooms in 217 schools were reportedly utilized as evacuation centers that accommodated 6,476 families.

Several Metro Manila cities suspended afternoon classes yesterday due to heavy rainfall.

Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela, Pasig, Quezon City and San Juan suspended afternoon classes at all levels in public and private schools. Navotas, meanwhile, did not suspend classes.

P1.7 billion infrastruction damage

Meanwhile, damage to infrastructure across the Cordillera highlands has reached P1.7 billion, with authorities still validating the extent of losses and expecting the figures to hike further.

The OCD said infrastructure damage was initially estimated at P1,700,378,348.51, while 205 houses were reported damaged—13 totally and 192 partially.

Eight road sections in Benguet, Kalinga and Mountain Province also remained impassable due to landslides and other weather-related damage.

Among those affected were road sections in La Trinidad, Tuba and Tublay in Benguet; Baguio; Tanudan in Kalinga and Bontoc and Tadian in Mountain Province.

The region’s agriculture sector also suffered losses, although the damage figure remained for validation.

The OCD said 348 barangays, involving 24,819 families or 65,421 persons, were affected by the weather disturbances.

The massive damage prompted the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to maintain a red alert status.

Authorities warned of more flash floods and landslides as the southwest monsoon continues to bring heavy rains to the Cordillera.

In Bulacan, 121 barangays were still inundated with one to six feet deep of water as of yesterday.

PDRRM officer Manuel Lukban Jr. said the floodwater came from backflooding from Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.

The flooding also caused the town of Calumpit to be placed under a state of calamity.

Malolos had the highest number of flooded barangays with 32 followed by Calumpit with 28, Hagonoy with 25, Paombong with 14, Guiguinto and Bocaue with seven each and Balagtas and Pulilan with four each.

The deepest flooded village was monitored in Barangay Meysulao in Calumpit town that was submerged under six feet of water.

The Department of Health (DOH) reiterated its reminders on flood-affected families to be on alert against food and waterborne diseases, especially to those housed in evacuation centers.

DOH said food and waterborne diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites that are transmitted to humans by eating contaminated food and water or by eating with dirty hands.

Among the common types of food and waterborne diseases are cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and leptospirosis.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police are clamping down on hoarders and profiteers out to take advantage of the crisis by selling overpriced agricultural products.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered police units to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and other concerned government agencies in ensuring that water-related disruptions are not used by unscrupulous traders to unreasonably raise prices of basic commodities.

Nartatez gave the directive after the DA reported that around 4,500 metric tons of produce were lost due to the effects of the recent storms.

He urged traders to keep prices of their goods fair and reasonable as he stressed the last thing people needed are profiteers taking advantage of disasters and other emergencies.

Nartatez urged people to report any overpriced goods or other irregularities in their area Prepared for Nangka.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assured the public that it is ready to respond to possible effects of Tropical Storm. – Mark Ernest Villeza, Janvic Mateo, Emmanuel Tupas, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ric Sapnu, Artemio Dumlao, Josiah Antonio, Daphne Galvez