One person was reported dead while nearly a quarter of a million Filipinos are facing a grim start to 2025 as severe flooding incidents affected communities across southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Friday, Dec. 27, that the combined effects of shear line and intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) have affected at least 63,212 families comprised of 249,007 individuals across Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), and Davao (Region 11).
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairperson and Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. presided over a meeting at the OCD building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Dec. 26 to discuss the government's response to the effects of the weather disturbances affecting the country. He was accompanied by top OCD officials led by OCD Administrator, Usec. Ariel Nepomuceno.
According to the OCD, the lone fatality died of drowning and was reported in Borongan City, Eastern Samar in Region 8. Multiple landslides were also reported in the region, prompting the regional disaster risk reduction and management council (RDRRMC 8) to conduct clearing operations.
“Damage assessment shows that 18 houses have been affected—seven partially and eleven totally. Immediate needs include food packs in Northern and Eastern Samar, and doxycycline in Catarman, Northern Samar,” the OCD said.
According to the civil defense agency, a total of 52,949 families or 199,364 persons were impacted by shear line and ITCZ in Region 8.
Meanwhile, 10 areas in Quezon province in Region 4A were also inundated which affected 88 families or 367 individuals. A road section in Real, Quezon was also impassable to vehicles, complicating access to affected areas.
In Mimaropa, 30 areas were flooded in Oriental Mindoro and Palawan, affecting 10,021 families or 48,598 individuals. Five impassable road sections and one bridge sustained significant infrastructure damage in the region.
The municipality of Baco, Oriental Mindoro, has declared a state of calamity through Resolution No. 290 - 2024, enabling expedited access to emergency assistance. Authorities have provided P1,779,800 worth of food and family packs to support the affected families, the OCD noted.
Meanwhile, 33 areas were flooded across 10 cities and municipalities in Region 5, including parts of Camarines Sur, which affected 154 families or 678 persons.
“These individuals are currently housed in ten evacuation centers, while 20 road sections remain impassable,” the OCD said.
Further, flooding has also been reported in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental in Region 11.
The OCD said that the Mana Bridge in Malita, Davao Occidental was rendered impassable to all vehicle types, while power interruption has been noted in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.
“The OCD is actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with local disaster response teams to provide timely assistance to affected communities. As the nation copes with these adverse weather conditions, efforts are focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of those impacted,” the agency said.