Around 6.5 million affected by bad weather; 29 deaths being confirmed — OCD

MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday said the number of people affected by the combined effects of tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the ongoing southwest monsoon (habagat) has climbed to nearly 6.52 million individuals, with the reported death toll rising to 29.

In a message to reporters, OCD public information officer Diego Mariano said the persons affected by the adverse weather is equivalent to about 1.82 million families residing in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera and the National Capital Region.

Some 628 evacuation centers are now sheltering around 13,957 families, equivalent to 47,277 individuals.

Mariano also said 1,882 houses were damaged while 226 dwellings were destroyed.

Infrastructure damage was placed at around PHP4.6 billion, while agriculture damage is estimated at PHP1.4 billion.

Reported deaths that are still undergoing verification process were placed at 29 – 15 in Benguet, four each in Rizal and Batangas; two in Caloocan; and one each in La Union, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, and Negros Occidental.

OCD said 19 persons were reported injured while three are missing.

Ensure safety of responders, police commanders told

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Thursday ordered all police commanders to look after the welfare of their personnel by providing essential support systems, especially during deployment for disaster response amid heavy monsoon rains.

“Each and every PNP personnel deployed for disaster response has family too and as commanders, we have to make sure that they are taken care of in order for them to go home safely,” he said in a statement.

The directive came as police officers continued rescue, relief, and public assistance operations in communities affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’.

More than 600 police officers had been deployed to assist residents affected by the rains and flooding. Cops have also continued assisting stranded commuters through free rides in areas affected by inundation.

The PNP chief also ordered assistance for personnel whose families were affected by the massive flooding.

“We will also provide psychosocial support for our men, especially those whose families have also been affected by the massive floods brought by torrential rains,” Nartatez said.

-with report from Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/Philippine News Agency