By Francis Wakefield
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Sunday said that more than P259 million worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture were recorded due to the effects of the Southwest Monsoon or "Habagat" enhanced by Tropical Cyclones "Henry" and "Inday".
NDRRMC (MANILA BULLETIN)
Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, the Executive Director of the NDRRMC and concurrent Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), disclosed that based on reports they have received, an estimated P259, 130,611.00 worth of damage to infrastructure and agriculture were reported in Regions I, II, III,CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), VI and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).
Meanwhile, a total of P11, 083,495.72 worth of assistance was provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH) and Local Government Units (LGUs) to the affected families of Regions I, III, CALABARZON, VI, NCR and CAR.
Jalad said as of their latest count, a total of 158,509 families or 728,003 persons were affected in 585 barangays in Regions I, III, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), VI and CAR and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Jalad said of the total number of families affected, 53,743 or 229,240 persons were being served inside and outside evacuation centers.
Jalad, at the same time, said that the NDRRMC recorded 42 incidents such as landslides, strong winds, soil and coastal erosion, collapsed structure, and maritime incident in Region's I, III, CALABARZOM, MIMAROPA, VI and CAR.
Jalad also said that to date, seven cities/municipalities were declared under state of calamity in Regions I, III, CALABARZON, and CAR.
He added that the municipalities of Asipolo and Lagawe, Ifugao and Dagupan City, Pangasinan were declared under state of calamity.
Jalad said as of Saturday, there are 92 passengers and two motorbancas stranded in Ports of Pasacao and Infanta. Ferry services operations in Tumbal, Botic, Abang, and Lublubnak in San Quintin, Abra were suspended due to river swelling of Abra River.
A total of 30 road sections and four bridges were affected in Regions I, III, VI and CAR.
Jalad also said that latest reports revealed that 334 areas experienced flooding in Regions I, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, CAR, and NCR of which floodwaters in 97 areas had already subsided.
He also said 156 houses were damaged - nine totally and 147 partially in Regions III, VI and CAR.
Jalad said that based on the latest report provided by PAGASA, Tropical Depression Josie has maintained its strength and is now traversing Luzon Strait.
The Southwest Monsoon willl bring moonsoon rains over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Ilocos Region, CAR, rest of Cagayan Valley, Mindoro Provinces, Rizal, Cavite, and Batangas.