3.3 million affected by 2 cyclones, monsoon

MANILA, Philippines — The number of people affected by the combined effects of southwest monsoon (habagat) and Typhoon Carina and Tropical Depression Butchoy now rose to 3.3 million people, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.

In its situational report as of 8 a.m. Saturday, the NDRRMC said that out of 3,360,339 persons (905,086 families), affected, some 251,166 persons or 64,520 families were staying in 1,236 evacuation centers. Meanwhile, 886,311 persons or 212,751 families preferred to stay with relatives or kin.

The NDRRMC also said that 16 persons were reported dead, four were injured and two others missing. It added that only 10 of the reported 16 dead persons were confirmed, while the other six are still up for validation.

Casualty reports from the NDRRMC were lower compared to the Philippine National Police (PNP) tally of 34 deaths – drowning with 22 cases, landslides with six, electrocution with five and one due to a fallen tree.

The NDRRMC further said that a total of 312 road sections and 22 bridges were reportedly affected.

The NDRRMC said 609 houses were damaged in region 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, Mimaropa, Caraga, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Of the 609 damaged houses, the NDRRMC said that 456 were partially damaged while 153 were totally damaged with an estimated property damage worth P2,661,100.

The NDRRMC said the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure amounting to P1,514,182.61 was reported in region 3, 10, 11, 12, BARMM and CAR.

A total of 1,244 families or 3,747 persons were pre-emptively evacuated.

The NDRRMC said that the government has deployed 4,533 search, rescue and retrieval operations teams in regions 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, BARMM and CAR and has rescued 1,365 victims in regions 4A, 5B, 9, National Capital Region and BARMM.

The government has so far provided P79,986,890.79 assistance consisting of food and non-food items. The assistance came from DSWD with P70,199,104.82; Office of Civil Defense with P6,606,625.66; local government units, P3,123,814.31; non-governmental organizations, P30,000; and others P27,436.

AFP donates to typhoon victims

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) donated the equivalent of one meal from the Subsistence Allowance or P50 from each member to victims of Typhoon Carina.

“This collective effort and selfless sacrifices reflect the AFP’s commitment to aiding those affected by this disaster, demonstrating solidarity and compassion during these challenging times,” the AFP said.

Various search, rescue and retrieval teams are also still deployed in Metro Manila and Southern and Northern Luzon to help in humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts.

Moratorium in housing amortizations

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has ordered its key shelter agencies to implement a one-month moratorium on the payment of housing amortization of their members affected by Typhoon Carina.

In a memorandum signed on Friday, DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar directed the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, National Housing Authority, the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) and National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. to grant the one-month moratorium in payments for their typhoon-affected clients.

“As part of our disaster response effort, the KSAs are hereby instructed to grant a one-month moratorium on the payment of monthly amortizations to their respective clientele affected by this disaster, subject to their internal rules and regulations,” Acuzar said in his memo.

In a statement, Acuzar added the move was also in compliance with President Marcos’ directive to extend all the necessary assistance to those affected by the typhoon.

He added that the moratorium is expected to benefit “thousands” of typhoon-affected families who have outstanding loans from key shelter agencies.

Meanwhile, apart from the moratorium, SHFC president Federico Laxa said that the agency has also prepared 9,132 relief packs to be distributed to typhoon-affected families within SHFC project sites.

The Pag-IBIG Fund earlier announced the allocation of P3 billion in calamity loans for its members. As of Friday noon, at least 250 loan applications were received, the Pag-IBIG Fund said.

The agency said it is also deploying its “Pag-IBIG On-Wheels” mobile offices to affected areas to deliver frontline services to the people. — Elizabeth Marcelo, Pia Lee-Brago