Three multiple weather disturbances affecting the country since last week have already killed 20 people while 14 others were missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
A situational report from the NDRRMC showed that there were 10 newly recorded fatalities due to the combined effects of Tropical Storm “Ferdie”, Tropical Depression “Gener”, and the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” – nine were in Mimaropa (Region 4B) and one in Central Visayas (Region 7).
The NDRRMC previously logged 10 deaths due to Ferdie and habagat: four each in Western Visayas (Region 6) and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and two in Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9).
Read: Thousands evacuate as ‘Gener’ lashes Southern Tagalog
“These 20 deaths are for validation,” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said in a media briefing.
Meanwhile, 14 people were missing as non-stop rains pounded mainland Luzon as well as parts of Visayas and Mindanao: 12 were in Region 4B and one each in Regions 6 and 9.
Gener exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility around 2 a.m. Wednesday while Ferdie left on Sept. 14.
Half a million people affected
Ferdie, Gener, and habagat have affected 156,524 families composed of 597,870 individuals, according to the NDRRMC. The effects of the three weather disturbances have been felt since Sept. 11.
Majority of those affected came from Region 6 where 73,512 families or 256,593 individuals felt the three weather disturbances’ effects; followed by BARMM (30,451 families or 151,576 individuals); and Bicol or Region 5 (25,333 families or 107,356 individuals).
Other affected regions were Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Regions 4B, 7, 9, Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Davao (Region 11), Soccsksargen (Region 12), and Caraga (Region 13).
Of those affected, more than 97,000 individuals were displaced and staying in evacuation centers, or in the houses of their relatives or friends.
“We advocate for pre-emptive evacuation kung kinakailangan dahil napakaimportante noon (if needed because this is very important),” Posadas said.
According to Posadas, President Marcos Jr. ordered the OCD “to always get in touch and coordinate with the LGUs [local government units] and determine what their needs are so that we could assist in whatever way possible.”
Bad weather to continue
The bad weather is expected to continue as a fourth weather disturbance, Tropical Storm “Helen”, entered PAR on Sept. 17.
“Although si Gener nakalabas na, nandito pa rin po si Helen sa ating Philippine Area of Responsibility at moreso po ‘yung habagat na pinapaigting nito especially dito po sa western portion ng Luzon, both sa Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Western Visayas, and part of Western Mindanao (Although Gener already left [the country], we still have Helen inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and moreso, the southwest monsoon whose effects are being enhanced especially in the western portion of Luzon, both in Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Western Visayas and part of Western Mindanao),” Posadas said.
The OCD spokesman urged the public to be vigilant and informed, and adhere to local officials’ directives, especially when pre-emptive evacuation is ordered.
“Your safety is a shared responsibility,” Posadas noted.