The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday reported that the death toll in the heavy rains across the country since Jan. 1 has reached 28, but only 15 have so far been confirmed, with the remaining 13 still for validation.
Meanwhile, the local NDRRMC office in Davao de Oro reported that 24 families were affected by a landslide caused by the torrential rains. However, there were no reports on casualties in the incident.
In a related development, the persistent inclement weather has forced the cancellation of multiple flights by local airliners.
In its updated report, the NDRRMC said eight fatalities were reported in Zamboanga, seven each in Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao, five in Bicol, and one in Davao Region.
A total of 1,397,296 people or 347,105 families were affected by the bad weather in 1,930 barangays in Cagayan, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro, the NDRRMC said.
At least 38,108 affected families were staying inside 489 evacuation centers, over 56,000 families stayed with friends or relatives.
A total of 1,307 houses were reported damaged, 935 of them partially and 372 totally.
The NDRRMC estimated damage to agriculture P274.1 million and to infrastructure at P171.5 million.
The National Irrigation Administration also reported P25.6 million worth of damage to irrigation projects.
Authorities have declared a state of calamity in San Miguel and Santa Fe in Leyte; the entire province of Eastern Samar; Gandara, Basey, San Jorge, and Calbayog in Samar; Laoang in Northern Samar; Sirawai in Zamboanga del Norte; and Tubod in Lanao del Norte.
The national government has so far released P74.2 million for assistance to the affected communities, the NDRRMC said.
Engr. Ariel Capoy of the Davao de Oro NDRRMC quoted the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) as saying the affected locality was landslide prone., and that the villagers have been advised to evacuate during prolonged rainfalls.
“Base sa MGB, ito po ay highly susceptible to landslide at alam na po ng mga naninirahan doon. Isa sa mga SOP (standard operating procedure) namin doon na kapag may prolonged rainfall…aalis na talaga sila,” he said.
The Manila International Airport Authority logged the following canceled flights:
• PAL Express (2P) 2932/2933 Manila-Basco-Manila
• 2P 2035/2036 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
• Cebgo (DG) 6055 Manila-Busuanga
• AirSwift (T6) 110 Manila-El Nido
• T6 113 El-Nido Manila
• T6 114/115 Manila-El Nido-Manila
• T6 126 Manila-El Nido
• T6 122 Manila-El Nido
• T6 130 Manila El-Nido
• T6 130D Manila-El Nido
• T6 143D El-Nido Manila
• T6 133 El Nido-Manila
• T6 146D Manila-El Nido
• T6 146 Manila-El Nido
• T6 143 El Nido-Manila
• T6 151 El Nido-Manila
• T6 153D El Nido-Manila
• T6 154D Manila-El Nido
• T6 149 El Nido-Manila
• T6 154/155 Manila-El Nido-Manila
• T6 151D El Nido Manila
Meanwhile, the weather bureau PAGASA said a low pressure area (LPA) last tracked 205 km. east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte was unlikely to develop into a tropical cyclone.
However, the LPA is forecast to cause light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.