‘Chedeng’ death toll now at 28

Twenty-eight people are now confirmed dead in the wake of storm Chedeng, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said yesterday. Nine other people remained missing.

The NDCC identified the three new fatalities as Jose Realizo, 52, who drowned in Balonganon, Masinloc, Zambales; Angel Mosque, 8, and Maria Eden Mosque; both landslide victims of Hydro 1, Camp 6, Tuba, Benguet.

Ten people have been reported as injured after the storm lashed Metro Manila and other parts of the country, the NDCC added.

The NDCC identified two people who have gone missing during the storm as Tyru Hiroshi, 2, of Kaingin, Cabanatuan City, and Joanne Gonzales, 17, of Panilao, Pilar, Bataan.

The NDCC said 726 families, or about 3,704 individuals are still housed in 31 evacuation centers in Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and Western Visayas.

Damage to property was placed by the NDCC at P50 million, while those to agriculture and livestock was about P66.7 million.

The NDCC has released P10 million in financial assistance to the victims and President Arroyo has approved the release of P5 million each in assistance to the cities of Dagupan and Urdaneta in Pangasinan.

Major roads in the Ilocos and Cordillera Administrative regions are also now being cleared by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Meanwhile, the NDCC said the municipalities of Leganes and Dumangas in Iloilo province, and Iloilo City have declared their areas under a state of calamity. – Mike Frialde