Monsoon, ‘tri-phoon’ death toll climbs to 34

MANILA, Philippines — The number of reported fatalities from the combined impact of the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Crising, Dante and Emong over the past week has risen to 34, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Latest reports from the NDRRMC said the three additional deaths are from the Calabarzon Region. However, only two of the recorded deaths have been confirmed as weather-related, while the rest remain under verification.

As of yesterday, nine of the reported deaths were from Metro Manila, eight from Calabarzon, six from Western Visayas, three each from the Negros Island Region and Northern Mindanao, two from Central Luzon and one each from MIMAROPA, CARAGA and the Davao Region.

At least seven individuals remain missing in Western Visayas, Metro Manila, CAR and Calabarzon.

The NDRRMC said 1,857,171 families or 6,670,506 individuals have been affected nationwide by the combined effects of the monsoon and typhoons. Of these, 33,694 families or 113,646 persons are still staying in 1,199 evacuation centers across the country.

A total of 15,220 houses were reported damaged in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, CAR, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, CARAGA and BARMM.

Damage to infrastructure has reached P7.3 billion, while agricultural losses are estimated at P1.6 billion.

The NDRRMC added that 193 cities and municipalities have been placed under a state of calamity, with P556.1 million worth of assistance provided to affected families and communities.

1.2 million Facebook hits

Following criticisms from netizens and government officials, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s “inappropriate” and “humorous” style in making public announcements have ironically earned the department over a million followers on social media.

Remulla noted that when he assumed office, the Department of the Interior and Local Government page had only around 3,000 followers.

“Now, 1.2 million na ang followers ng DILG,” he said during post-SONA discussions in San Juan City.

According to Remulla, many parents and students, whom he calls “abangers,” have benefited from the timely updates.

The DILG chief also stressed the need for a unified announcement on class and work suspensions instead of leaving the decision to individual local governments, which often leads to inconsistent messaging.

Remulla said their decisions are grounded in science and based on advisories from the Department of Science and Technology and the Office of Civil Defense.

Based on their institutional approach to disseminate public information, the abangers, mothers, students, all get immediate information, Remulla said.

He recently faced backlash for his use of casual language and tone, which drew criticism from netizens and even Vice President Sara Duterte, who urged him to uphold professionalism as the leader of a national agency.

Courts suspended

Work in several courts across Luzon was suspended yesterday due to inclement weather.

In separate announcements, the Supreme Court said operations in some courts in La Union, Batanes and Quezon were suspended.

All Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) and the Municipal Trial Court in San Fernando, La Union, as well as the Municipal Circuit Trial Court in San Juan-San Gabriel halted work, with only a skeleton workforce on duty.

Courts in Batanes were likewise ordered to suspend work. — Emmanuel Tupas, Daphne Galvez