DSWD: Over 190K affected by storms, ‘habagat’
At least 190,000 people were impacted by the two typhoons and the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,’ that brought widespread destruction and floods in many parts of Luzon over the last week.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in a report Tuesday, said 54,010 families composed of 191,860 people were affected by the combined effect of the habagat; Tropical Depression “Mirasol,” which made landfall in Casiguran, Aurora, on Sept. 17; and Supertyphoon “Nando” (international name: Ragasa), which made landfall over Panuitan Island in Calayan, Cagayan, on Monday.
These families reside in 950 barangays in the National Capital Region, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Of the affected, 24,499 people, or 8,082 families, were receiving assistance inside 508 evacuation centers, while 11,505 people, or 3,568 families, were being assisted outside evacuation centers, the DSWD said.
The government has so far distributed over P8.4 million worth of assistance to these families, the agency added.
But aid has still to come for the isolated island village of Babuyan Claro in Calayan struck by Nando’s torrential rains and howling winds, leaving its nearly 2,000 residents with little food.
Nando exited the Philippine area of responsibility on Tuesday at 8 a.m., according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Fatality, missing
Nando did not only cause widespread destruction as it tore through northern Luzon—packing maximum winds of 215 kilometers per hour near the center and gust of up to 295 kph—but also left dead a traveler bound for Baguio City and six fishermen missing.
The typhoon triggered deadly landslides, capsized fishing boats, cut off remote island villages from food and water, toppled power lines and displaced thousands.
The provinces of Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Batanes lost their electricity while partial power outages were reported in other parts of Luzon on Monday, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said.
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, in a separate advisory, said all transmission lines affected by the typhoon were fully restored as of Tuesday afternoon.
An elderly traveler from Tarlac province was killed after being pinned under debris when landslides struck Marcos Highway in Tuba town, Benguet. Passengers from Pasig City who were traveling on the same route were injured and brought to Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.
The landslides hit three sections of Barangay Taloy Sur on Monday afternoon, blocking the highway, also known as the Ben Palispis-Jose Aspiras Road, before clearing operations reopened it later that day.
Kennon Road, a mountain artery linking Baguio to the lowland, was also closed due to rockslides, prompting Mayor Benjamin Magalong to inspect slope protection structures along the zigzag route.
Elsewhere in the Cordillera, Department of Public Works and Highways crews cleared debris from several mountain roads, including sections in Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga and Benguet.
Rising waters in Calanasan town, Apayao, blocked alternate roads while new bridges were under construction, forcing the preemptive evacuation of more than 2,000 residents in six towns.
Storm surges
In Cagayan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescued six fishermen whose boat capsized off San Vicente, Sta. Ana, as they tried to return to shore for safety.
According to the PCG, strong waves from storm surges, compounded by heavy rains and winds, overturned the fishing boat.
Four of the survivors remain confined at St. Anthony’s Hospital, while two sustained minor injuries. Search operations continued Tuesday for six others still missing.
Further north in Babuyan Claro, an islet village of Calayan town, 1,910 residents face dwindling food supplies after their houses, schools, and crops were ravaged by the typhoon.
“Apart from the destruction to our houses and properties, we are also afraid that the remaining food stock will only last for two to three days,” village councilman Bernie Nuñez told the Inquirer in a message on Tuesday.
Food shortage
Many residents lost their rice reserves when roofs were blown off, while groceries and shops also ran out of stock. Rough seas have made travel to mainland Cagayan nearly impossible, and damaged boats have worsened the isolation.
“The storm also damaged many boats, making it even more difficult to find food,” Nuñez said, adding that potable water is also in short supply.
“Immediate aid, particularly food, which is the main staple needed at the moment,” Nuñez added.
In Pampanga, Nando’s heavy rainfall and high tide flooded 45 villages in the towns of Macabebe, Masantol and Minalin, and the capital of San Fernando.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that floodwater reached up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) in Tacasan in Macabebe. Eight families in Alauli, Malauli and San Pedro in Masantol evacuated to barangay and multipurpose halls. Mayors suspended classes in Pampanga’s two cities and 19 towns. —WITH REPORTS FROM LISBET K. ESMAEL AND TONETTE OREJAS
