A second low pressure area (LPA) being monitored by the state weather bureau in the country is expected to add to the worsening effects of the southwest monsoon (habagat) and an earlier LPA.

A report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Friday, July 19, said that seven persons have already been reported killed due to widespread floodings and landslides caused by habagat and the first LPA.

“The report that we have received right now is that the [new LPA] will likely affect the same areas that are being pounded by habagat and the first LPA. We are hoping that these won’t develop into powerful storms,” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said in a radio interview over dzBB.

The first LPA was last located by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) at 225 kilometers west of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. Meanwhile, the second LPA formed at 2 a.m. Friday and was monitored 840 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.

According to NDRRMC, habagat and the first LPA have so far affected 572,997 individuals (117,676 families) in seven regions. 

The affected regions were Mimaropa which covers Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (Region 4B); Eastern Visayas (Region 7); Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9); Northern Mindanao (Region 10); Davao (Region 11); Soccsksargen which covers South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City (Region 12); and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

More than 22,000 individuals were staying in 53 evacuation centers while 327,000 others sought shelter with their families’ or friends’ houses after being displaced.

Five of the seven fatalities were already validated by the NDRRMC: four individuals died due to landslides in Zamboanga City in Region 9 while one person drowned in Bukidnon in Region 10. 

Meanwhile, two more deaths were being confirmed by the NDRRMC: one each in Region 11 and BARMM.

In Region 10, two persons were also reported injured while one was missing.

Effects

Posadas said the OCD has received reports that several areas were already placed under a state of calamity due to the effects of habagat and the first LPA, the latest of which is Pikit, Cotabato.

“We are just waiting for the copies of the resolution for their declaration so we can officially record it,” he said.

Fifty areas in the seven affected regions remained inundated due to habagat and the first LPA.

The bad weather also damaged 133 houses: 53 were totally destroyed while 80 were partially damaged.

Damage to agriculture was estimated at P17.88 million with Region 10 incurring the biggest loss at P16.1 million, followed by Region 9 with P1.69 million.

Meanwhile, damage to infrastructure reached P700,000 and the affected areas were in Regions 10, 11, 12, and BARMM.

Twelve roads and a bridge in Regions 9, 11, and BARMM remained impassable to the public due to flooding and landslides.

Power supply has yet to be restored in eight cities and municipalities in Regions 9 and 12, while water supply interruption persisted in two areas in Region 4B and Region 9.