Tropical Storm Ferdie may have stayed in the country for a short time but the rains it brought, coupled with the enhanced effects of the southwest monsoon (habagat) displaced more than 3,000 individuals, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Saturday, Sept. 14.
The NDRRMC said a total of 4,464 families comprised of 14,215 persons were affected due to Ferdie in Western Visayas (Region 6), Davao Region (Region 11), and Soccsksargen (Region 12).
Of those affected, there were 1,070 families or 3,408 individuals who fled their homes and were temporarily staying in 74 evacuation centers while 219 families or 745 individuals opted to stay with their relatives’ or friends’ homes while being assisted by the government.
Forty areas were also inundated by Ferdie in Palawan, Antique, Davao City, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, and Saranggani.
"Dito po sa Western Visayas hanggang sa Western Mindanao, medyo walang patlang ang pag-ulan at ipinapanawagan namin patuloy 'yung paghahanda at pagiging alerto ng ating publiko (In Western Visayas and Western Mindanao, there have been non-stop rains and we continuously call on the public to be prepared and alert)," Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
Further, the Philippine Army’s (PA) 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) mobilized its disaster response task units (DRTUs) from the 62nd Infantry Battalion to help evacuate 30 families in La Castellana, Negros Occidental due to Ferdie and the increased seismic activity at Mt. Kanlaon.
“The storm brought heavy rains and strong winds to the province while Mt. Kanlaon exhibited increased sulfur dioxide emissions,” said Lt. Col. J-Jay Javines, chief of 3ID public affairs office.
Meanwhile, one road – the Crossing Aldea national road in Barbaza, Antique – was flooded due to Ferdie, making it not passable to light vehicles.
The strong rains and howling winds also destroyed five houses and partially damaged 12 homes in Antique, Negros Occidental, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Saranggani.
Meanwhile, power interruption was recorded in 26 barangays in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.
To assist the typhoon victims, the national government has distributed P921 million worth of relief assistance such as family food packs, sleeping kits, and kitchen kits among others.
Ferdie entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 6 p.m. on Friday and left at 2 a.m. the following day.