The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Monday, Sept. 26, that it was awaiting official reports from the ground that would verify the details of the reported death of five rescuers in San Miguel, Bulacan during the onslaught of typhoon “Karding.”
“Let us wait for an updated sitrep , we have none so far based on the recent ,” the NDRRMC information office told reporters when asked whether they already received initial information about the rescuers who reportedly perished due to a flash flood.
According to reports, the five rescuers were found dead in Sitio Galas, Brgy. Kamias, San Miguel, Bulacan on Monday morning. Their identities have yet to be disclosed.
Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando said the rescuers were conducting rescue operations the night before the incident when their truck malfunctioned. The rescuers opted to use a boat to cross a flooded portion of the village when a flash flood suddenly occurred.
Meanwhile, the latest sitrep of the NDRRMC showed that a total of 164 families or 653 individuals were affected by the typhoon in 28 barangays in Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as of 8 a.m. Monday.
There were 147 families or 590 individuals who were staying in 34 evacuation centers in the affected regions.
A separate report read by NDRRMC Chairman and Department of National Defense (DND) Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr. to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a situation briefing at the NDRRMC Building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City revealed that the number of the affected population already reached 1,208 families or 4,606 individuals in 57 barangays.
The NDRRMC was waiting reports from other affected regions including the National Capital Region (NCR), Ilocos Region (1), Central Luzon (Region 3), and Calabarzon (Region 4A).
The challenge now is for the NDRRMC and their regional counterparts to deliver much-needed assistance, particularly food and water, to the affected families.
So far, Faustino said sufficient family food packs were already prepositioned in the affected areas. Some P186 million were also earmarked as standby funds for the typhoon victims while another P985 million worth of family food packs and other food and non-food items were in stockpile.
Power and communication lines
Unlike the previous typhoons, Faustino reported that power and communication lines were not severely affected by typhoon Karding.
“As of last night, while we were monitoring the onslaught of the typhoon, we were able to contact all the provinces through the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Administrator of Office of Civil Defense was able to talk to the mayor of Polillo, Quezon last night, so meaning hindi talaga naputol ‘yung communications all throughout sa dinaanan ng bagyo (that means the communication lines were not interrupted all throughout the typhoon’s track),” Faustino said.
Polillo was among the areas placed under Signal Number 5, the highest alert, as the typhoon directly passed through it during last night’s onslaught.
Ports
Meanwhile, there were 47 ports in the affected regions that were non-operational during the height of the typhoon, stranding 2,737 passengers, 260 rolling cargoes, 24 vessels, and 13 motorbancas in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol Region.
Up until 8 a.m. Monday, they have yet to resume operations.
Damage
Based on the initial report received by the NDRRMC, typhoon Karding left P1 million worth of damage to infrastructure in Mimaropa while agricultural losses are yet to be determined.
“The NDRRMC will continue to monitor the situation and anticipate whatever needs that may arise. Based on our monitoring and coordination with the regional DRRM councils, there are no pressing needs as of the moment and the response requirements are generally managed at the ground,” Faustino said.