The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) urged the public to prepare for more rains as a new weather disturbance may form this week after Tropical Storm “Crising” left three people dead and 370,000 individuals were affected in 15 regions.

A report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday, July 20, showed that the combined effects of Crising and “habagat” (southwest monsoon) killed three people in Mindanao: one each in Mambajao, Camiguin; Lanao del Norte; and Malita Davao Occidental.

OCD Officer-in-Charge Asst. Sec. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said the fatalities were hit by fallen debris.

“We’re waiting for the validated reports on the ground but initially, it was reported that they were hit by fallen trees and other debris,” Alejandro said.

There were three missing individuals in Antique due to flooding while three others were injured in Sultan Kudarat.

“Ang habagat nag-umpisa sa Mindanao pataas hanggang Central Visayas kaya noong nakaraang linggo nagkaroon ng flooding sa Cebu hanggang Negros, Aklan, Panay Island at pataas (Habagat first affected Mindanao and moved up to Central Visayas, which is why there was flooding last week in Cebu, Negros, Aklan, Panay Island, and further north),” Alejandro explained.

“Ngayon nagme-meeting kami kasi may isang nagbabadyang LPA [low pressure area] na naman na binabantayan natin at again it might trigger or magdadala ng habagat so ibig sabihin tuluy-tuloy ang ulan, magkakaroon lang ng dalawa or tatlong araw na break at babalik na naman ang ulan (Right now, we're having a meeting because there's another looming LPA that we're monitoring, and again, it might trigger or enhance habagat. This means the rain will continue, with only a two- or three-day break before it starts raining again),” he added.

He said the OCD will remain on Red Alert for the possible LPA which may develop into a tropical cyclone near the eastern part of Northern Luzon within the first week of the forecast period from July 18 to 25.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said 120,008 families or 370,289 individuals were affected by Crising and habagat in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Soccsksargen (Region 12), Caraga (Region 13), Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and Negros Island Region (NIR).

The data is expected to further increase as reports from other regions have yet to be consolidated due to ongoing search and rescue operations.

Of those affected, around 43,000 individuals were displaced including 22,623 who were staying in 349 evacuation centers and 20,759 who were staying in their relatives or friends’ homes.

The NDRRMC has extended P29 million worth of assistance to the affected residents in the form of family food packs, shelter kits, and financial aid among others.

“Itong Crising, walang landfall kaya ang tingin ng tao ulan lang ‘yan walang panganib, walang signal. Ito ang challenge sa amin paano ba itranslate itong early warnings na ito na maging actionable on the ground. In general sumunod naman ang mga tao sa pre-emptive evacuation pero kailangan lang mas maaga at mas maayos na pamamaraan (Crising didn’t make landfall, so people thought it was just rain and not dangerous since there were no storm signals. That’s the challenge for us right now, how to translate these early warnings into something actionable on the ground. In general, people did follow the pre-emptive evacuation, but it needs to be done earlier and in a more organized manner),” Alejandro said.

Flooding was also reported in 673 areas or barangays nationwide but Alejandro said it has subsided in 120 areas. Six landslides and a tornado were also monitored in Regions 3, 4A, 6, 7, and 12. There were 123 road sections and seven bridges that were affected by flooding and debris blocking.

The NDRRMC said that the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure was P11.5 million as 12 flood-control projects and other infrastructures were destroyed in Regions 1, 6, and CAR. A total of 410 houses were also damaged in Regions 1, 2, 4A, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, BARMM, and CAR.

Meanwhile, damage to agriculture has yet to be verified by the NDRRMC from the Department of Agriculture as assessments were still ongoing.

Power interruption was also reported in 70 cities and municipalities, most of which were in Region 1 with 20 areas. Water supply interruption was also recorded in Puerto Princesa, Palawan due to the presence of cloudy or murky waters.

Communication lines were cut in 25 areas in Regions 1 and 4B but these have already been restored. Two airports in Palawan also suspended their operations while 53 seaports cancelled sea trips, leading to the stranding of 157 passengers and 22 rolling cargoes.

“As we progress, the weather will improve and these ports will resume operations,” Alejandro assured the public.

Alejandro said the OCD has already monitored several areas declaring a state of calamity but only one municipality has submitted the official documents for such a declaration.

“Ang nagdeclare ng state of calamity, isa pa lang ang nagreport at nakasubmit, ‘yung Umingan, Pangasinan (The only one that has declared a state of calamity and has submitted a report so far is Umingan, Pangasinan),” he said.

According to reports, Cebu City has also declared a state of calamity due to the impact of Crising and habagat but the OCD has yet to receive official documentation from them.

The OCD explained that the declaration of a state of calamity follows a process guided by the Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

It said the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) must recommend the declaration of a state of calamity in an affected area to the local sanggunian (council) after a damage assessment, and the Sangguniang Bayan must pass a resolution declaring a state of calamity.

Once declared, calamity funds can be released and price freeze on basic goods takes effect. The local government can also implement emergency procurement and rescue or rehabilitation programs faster while residents may access calamity loans from different government agencies.