Habagat damages P24M properties in Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - The southwest monsoon has damaged almost P24-million worth of property and has affected more than 430,000 persons.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the amount of property damaged by the monsoon has reached P23.95 million.

The town of Castillejos in Zambales was worst hit, sustaining P23.3 million worth of property damage.

San Antonio town, meanwhile suffered P250,000 in property damage.

The monsoon also damaged P400,000 worth of properties in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

NDRRMC said 88 houses were damaged in Central Luzon and Calabarzon. A total of 55 areas in the two regions remain flooded as of Thursday.

The number of affected persons has risen to 430,563 individuals or 91,502 families in 311 barangays in Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila.

Of the affected residents, 106,939 persons or 23,221 families were displaced.

NDRRMC said 20,753 persons or 4,869 families are still inside 101 evacuation centers.

Majority of the displaced, 86,186 of them, are staying with their relatives and families.

The southwest monsoon affected Central and Southern Luzon and parts of Visayas and has left at least 32 persons dead and six others injured.

The weather condition triggered nine landslides in Zambales, Batangas, Cavite and Palawan, a storm surge and five flashfloods.

The municipality of Busuanga, Palawan and Olongapo City in Zambales have been placed under state of calamity. The declaration allows local governments to tap their respective calamity funds.

The government and private groups have provided P3.15 million worth of assistance to the affected residents.