THE death toll attributed to tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, and Neneng, and the southwest monsoon or habagat, has climbed to 39, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) reported on Wednesday.
This, as Typhoon Pilandok continues to induce rain, aggravating the monsoon rains that continue to drench some parts of Luzon, the state weather bureau reported.
The inclement weather, characterized by nonstop rains that trigger landslides and flash floods and cause severe flooding in low-lying areas in Luzon, including the National Capital Region, injured 20 persons. Three other persons remain missing.
In its Wednesday 6:00 a.m. report on the combined impacts of the three tropical cyclones and the southwest monsoon, NDRRMC said the affected population has also to 2.7 million families or 9.4 million persons.
Various government agencies led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with concerned local governments (LGU) continue to assist affected families in 968 different evacuation centers, providing them with family food packs, water, medicines, tents, clothing, and bedding.
As of Wednesday, 20,279 families or 71,364 persons remain in evacuation centers.
Despite improved weather in some areas, the number of affected barangay affected by flood has also increased to 6,328 across most of Luzon.
The government has so far spent around P1.85 billion to assist the affected families.
The NDRRMC said it is monitoring 711 different flooded areas across Luzon.
About 178 LGUs are still under a state of calamity.
The NDRRMC said the flooding and landslides have damaged 3,900 houses.
Because of the flooding, damage to public and private infrastructure has ballooned to P6.27 billion, while crop damage is now estimated at P2.84 billion.
In its 11 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Bulletin issued on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Pilandok is now moving northwestward over the Philippine Sea.
Gale-force gusts
OWING to the southwest monsoon, strong to gale-force gusts are threatening most of Luzon and Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.
Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, and Zambales are experiencing 50 to q00 mm or moderate rains today and will continue until September 5.
Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast over Occidental Mindoro on Friday and Saturday.
Pagasa said heavy rainfall and severe winds may still be experienced in localities outside, but near the storm-affected areas.
Pilandok is forecast to remain as a tropical storm as it moves northwestward throughout the forecast period and will remain far from the Philippine landmass, the weather bureau said.
At midday on Wednesday, Pilandok was located at 1,205 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon and is moving northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour and is packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Pilandok is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday, September 3.
PAF launches relief ops
THE Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday said its S-70i ‘Black Hawk’ helicopters conducted airlift operations for southwest monsoon drenched communities in Zambales on Tuesday.
In a statement the PAF spokesperson, Col. Ma. Christina Basco, said the mission was carried out through the Tactical Operations Wing-Northern Luzon, and the Air Logistics Support Command, in coordination with the Army.
‘[The PAF] continues to support humanitarian assistance and disaster response [HADR] operations by airlifting relief supplies from Clark Air Base, Pampanga, on September 1,’ she added.
Basco said PAF S-70i ‘Black Hawk’ helicopters airlifted 1,000 family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development for delivery to affected communities in barangay Santa Fe, San Marcelino, Zambales.
”The operation underscores the PAF’s commitment, alongside its government and military partners, to ensuring the timely delivery of essential assistance to communities affected by disasters,’ she added. With Rex Anthony Naval