At least 22 areas that include the entire province of Misamis Occidental have declared a state of calamity due to the devastation wrought by heavy rains that triggered widespread flooding and landslides in the country, particularly in Mindanao.
As of Saturday, Dec. 31, the death toll from the effects of shear line was at 46 with 28 other people in the missing list.
According to weather experts, shear line is the weather system hat is formed when cold and warm winds converge, which eventually triggers rains.
The damage to agriculture to infrastructure has already reached P1.137 billion while the damage to agriculture was pegged at P245 million.
In its situation report released on Saturday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that as of 6 a.m. of Dec. 31, a total of 22 local government units (LGUs) declared a state of calamity to effectively address the needs of their constituents.
Among them are the Brooke's Point town in Palawan; Llorente town in Eastern Samar; and Dapitan and Polanco in Zamboanga del Norte.
The Northern Mindanao region has the most number of areas placed under state of calamity with 18, including the entire province of Misamis Occidental.
Based on the NDRRMC data, more than 524,000 people were affected by widespread flooding and landslides. Almost all of the displaced people affected have already returned to their homes.
Most of the displaced people remaining in evacuation centers are from Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region.
The situation in almost of the affected areas has started to normalize, including the communication, power and water supply system.
The NDRRMC also reported that P51.4 million worth of assistance were already provided to the affected areas.