The number of affected persons due to the combined effects of Tropical Cyclone “Dodong” and southwest monsoon (habagat) already reached 47,000 as of Tuesday, July 18, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) disclosed.

*In this undated photo, authorities are seen securing a water search and rescue equipment used during the onslaught of tropical cyclone "Dodong" and southwest monsoon (habagat) in Pangasinan. (Photo: NDRRMC)

* Newly designated NDRRMC spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said a total of 13,929 families or 47,220 individuals have already been affected by heavy rains and flooding due to Dodong and habagat. The affected persons were from Pangasinan in Ilocos Region (Region 1); Bulacan, Zambales, and Pampanga in Central Luzon (Region 3); Cavite and Batangas in Calabarzon (Region 4A); Palawan in Mimaropa (Region 4B); and Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas (Region 6). There was no also new report on casualty due to the rains and floods as the NDRRMC said it was still verifying information that it was receiving from the local DRRM offices. “We have not monitored any major untoward incident although the NDRRMC is still on a blue alert status so we can focus on our efforts,” Posadas said in a “Laging Handa” public briefing. Of those affected, a total of 452 families or 1,788 individuals were still staying in 37 evacuation centers across the five regions. “As to provision of their needs, it’s good that the Central Office has not yet received a major request for assistance. That’s a good sign because it means the concerned local government units are still able to manage, to provide for the needs of the evacuees,” Posadas shared. As this developed, the NDRRMC spokesperson urged the public to be vigilant as a new low pressure area (LPA) has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). The LPA was last monitored at approximately 810 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao as of 3 a.m. Tuesday, and it may head towards Northern Luzon area in the next few days, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). “There is a new weather disturbance that is poised to become a new typhoon so we need to sustain our preparation,” Posads noted.

Assistance

The government has already extended relief assistance amounting to P979,306 to the affected individuals such as family food packs, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, sleeping kits, and financial aid among others. Meanwhile, the NDRRMC was monitoring calls for search and rescue due to deep floods in many parts of the country. Posadas said there were 50 areas in Ilocos Region (22), Central Luzon (nine), and Western Visayas (19) that were inundated due to the non-stop rains in the past few days but flood in 46 areas has already subsided. There were also 35 roads and four bridges in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions 1, 3, and Calabarzon that were deemed impassable due to flood and landslides.