By Mark Joseph M. Sanchez
AT LEAST 26 people have died due to Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and the southwest monsoon, while more than 5.1 million people from 1.5 million families have been affected, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
The figures include the effects of heavy rains on Monday linked to the continuing southwest monsoon, the NDRRMC said.
In a report, the disaster agency said 1.47 million families, or 5.15 million people, were affected across the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Calabarzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila and Mimaropa.
Benguet accounted for the highest number of deaths at 15, all caused by landslides. Rizal and Batangas each reported three deaths, while La Union, Quezon and Negros Occidental each reported one drowning death. Caloocan City recorded two deaths due to drowning.
The NDRRMC also reported 17 injuries and one missing person.
The government has provided P717.4 million in humanitarian assistance to affected families, Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon “Rex” T. Gatchalian told a news briefing.
Nationwide, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has released 4.2 million family food packs and 270,232 nonfood items. The agency also has P833.1 million in standby funds available for disaster response.
Mr. Gatchalian said 461 evacuation centers were sheltering 12,194 families, while another 11,554 families were staying outside evacuation facilities.
The weather disturbances also damaged 1,993 houses, including 206 that were destroyed and 1,787 that sustained partial damage, he said, adding that financial assistance was being extended to affected families.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it was monitoring three weather systems, including two low-pressure areas and a tropical depression located more than 3,000 kilometers from the Philippines.
PAGASA Deputy Administrator for Operations and Services Roy A. Badilla said the two low-pressure areas were enhancing the southwest monsoon, bringing continued rains to western sections of the country, including Metro Manila.
“Based on the data we have, we expect somewhat continuous rainfall throughout August, though it won’t be particularly heavy,” he told the briefing. “We simply anticipate intermittent episodes of rain.”
Heavy rainfall continued to strain flood control and drainage systems, particularly in Metro Manila.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, citing data from the state weather bureau, said rainfall reached 201.7 millimeters between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday.
Rainfall intensified around midday, with 138 millimeters recorded from noon to 2 p.m. alone, causing water levels to rise rapidly and inundating roads across the capital region.
The agency said the five-hour rainfall total was equivalent to nearly half of the 455 millimeters recorded over 24 hours during Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, one of the country’s deadliest flooding events.
Government agencies continued clearing operations, relief distribution and damage assessments in affected areas as intermittent rains persisted in parts of Luzon and the Visayas.
The NDRRMC said monitoring and response efforts continue as local governments work to restore services and help displaced residents. — with Erika Mae P. Sinaking