A total of 47 cities and municipalities have been placed under a state of calamity as the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical cyclones “Luis” and “Maymay” affected more than 4.3 million people across 3,768 barangays nationwide, the Office of Civil Defense disclosed Friday, Aug. 14.

The weather disturbances affected 1,253,010 families or 4,344,354 persons in 10 regions namely Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6) and Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9).

Of the affected population, 14,605 families or 52,087 persons were being assisted inside 533 evacuation centers while another 13,725 families or 50,515 persons were served outside temporary shelters.

The 47 areas under a state of calamity were spread across three regions: one was in Region 1, 22 were in Region 3, and 24 were in Calabarzon.

Dagupan City in Pangasinan was placed under a state of calamity in Region 1. In Region 3, the declaration covered Calumpit in Bulacan and Pampanga province-wide, involving 21 cities and municipalities.

In Calabarzon, the declaration covered Rodriguez in Rizal and 23 cities and municipalities across Cavite.

The weather disturbances left 21 people dead, 17 injured, and three missing.

Fifteen of the fatalities were recorded in CAR and six in Calabarzon. Benguet alone recorded 15 deaths, with two in La Trinidad, 10 in Baguio and three in Atok. All were attributed to landslides.

Rizal recorded three deaths: two were caused by a rockslide in Rodriguez while one person died after being hit by a fallen tree in Antipolo.

Batangas also recorded three deaths: one was due to drowning in Batangas City, one to electrocution in Lipa, and one to a landslide in Santa Teresita.

The 17 injured included one in Ilocos Sur, 14 in CAR and two in Calabarzon.

In Benguet, 12 people were injured: two were from La Trinidad, eight from Baguio, one from Atok and one from Buguias, where the injury was caused by a fallen tree.

Two people were injured in La Paz, Abra while another was injured by strong currents in Rodriguez, Rizal. A person in Naic, Cavite, was also injured in a vehicular accident.

Three people remained missing: one was reported in Alaminos, Pangasinan, another was reported in Batangas City while the third was in Candelaria, Quezon.

Flooding remained a major concern in several areas and the Philippine National Police (PNP) ordered police commanders to work with local governments and schools to protect students who may be stranded after sudden class suspensions.

Flooding was reported in 450 areas, with Region 3 accounting for 389 of these areas, followed by Region 1 with 57, Calabarzon with three, and Mimaropa with one.

Floodwaters had subsided in 567 areas while conditions were reported as receding in 41 areas.

Classes were suspended in 577 areas across Regions 1, 2, CAR, 3, NCR, Calabarzon and Mimaropa while work suspensions were reported in 443 areas in the same regions.

The scale of the flooding prompted the PNP to focus on areas where students could face danger after classes are suspended.

Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., PNP Chief, ordered police commanders, particularly those in urban and flood-prone areas, to coordinate with local government units and schools in monitoring students who may be stranded.

“This is a task that requires coordination to come up with the best systematic measure to ensure the safety and welfare of our learners, especially those in the grade school and junior high school levels,” Nartatez said.

The directive followed reports of students being stranded during bad weather, prompting Nartatez to order increased police visibility along routes commonly used by students including school zones, transport hubs, major roads, and flood-prone areas.

“We are directing our personnel to coordinate with local authorities and schools, monitor areas prone to flooding, and provide immediate assistance when needed,” he said.

The PNP said patrols would help identify students who become stranded or need assistance while traveling home. Police officers would also help keep students away from flooded roads and other hazards while coordinating with emergency responders.

“We remind our police officers to remain visible and responsive during weather-related disruptions. The safety of our students and the public remains our priority,” Nartatez said.

The rains and flooding also affected 738 road sections and 38 bridges. A total of 165 roads and 13 bridges remained impassable.

The affected roads included 68 in Region 1, three in Region 2, 10 in CAR, 63 in Region 3, 20 in Calabarzon and one in Region 6. The impassable bridges included three each in Regions 1 and 2, four in Region 3, and three in Calabarzon.

Power service interruption was reported in 87 cities and municipalities. Eight areas still had interruptions while service had been restored in 79 areas in Regions 1, CAR, 3, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.

Water supply was affected in six cities and municipalities in Region 1 and Calabarzon: two areas had interruptions while four had restored service.

Further, communication lines were affected in five cities and municipalities. All had been restored in Region 1.

Meanwhile, agriculture sustained P390.95 million in damage and losses, with Region 3 recording the largest amount at P183.15 million, followed by Region 1 at P148.81 million, and Mimaropa at P53.37 million.

Region 2 recorded P2.66 million in agricultural damage and losses, Calabarzon reported P2.59 million, while Region 6 reported P384,034.

Infrastructure damage was estimated at P3.32 billion and CAR accounted for the biggest loss at P1.62 billion, followed by Region 1 for P1.17 billion, and Calabarzon for P537.95 million.

A total of 1,460 houses were also damaged, of which, 1,350 were partially damaged and 110 were totally destroyed.

The government has provided P507.85 million in assistance to affected families.

Of the 683,820 families identified as needing assistance, 79,683 had been assisted, equivalent to 11.65 percent.