More than 700,000 in Luzon now affected by monsoon

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – At least 706,739 people are now affected by the combined effects of tropical storm Maring (international codename Trami) and the southwest monsoon, with the number of dead reaching 8, social welfare officials reported on Tuesday, August 20.

As of 6:00 pm, affected areas include 16 provinces, 24 cities, 59 towns, and 659 barangays, the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) said.

More provinces and towns in Luzon were placed under a state of calamity Tuesday, including the provinces of Laguna, Pampanga, Bataan, and Cavite, as well as the towns of San Mateo and Taytay in Rizal, and Sta Barbara in Pangasinan.

Region	Prov	City	Mun	Brgys	Families	Individuals
NCR	–	14	1	76	7,077	32,691
CAR	3	–	6	7	237	591
I	3	3	13	122	10,188	52,044
III	5	5	24	289	102,121	484,547
IV-A	4	2	14	163	27,381	135,846
IV-B	1	–	1	2	204	1,020
Total	16	24	59	659	147,208	706,739

Source: DSWD

The previous DSWD report only had about 600,000 affected people across Luzon.

Meanwhile, at least 8 people died due to the severe weather conditions, according the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC).

The weather disturbance also damaged at least 35 houses, 19 of them totally damaged and 16 partially destroyed. Most of them are in Region IV-A, where 14 houses were totally destroyed and 7 were partially damaged.

The declaration of a state of calamity facilitates the release of funds for affected areas. 

Emergency relief resources

DSWD has allotted P118.8 million worth of emergency relief resources for the regions affected by the tropical storm. The assistance package included a standby fund worth P13.87 million, P15 million worth of food packs, and P89.9 million for other relief items.

“We are focusing on delivering food packs. The goal is to repack goods to produce 100,000 food packs,” Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman told Rappler. 

Soliman appealed for volunteers to help package relief goods at the National Resource Operations Center (NROC) in Pasay City Tuesday morning.

The relief goods will benefit a total of 198 evacuation centers that currently serve at least 9,219 families or 41,174 people.

According to Soliman, her agency is coordinating with the Organization of Migration for camp management. 

Volunteers

The DSWD also said it is helping 19,139 families or 90,457 people who sought shelter in the homes of friends and relatives on higher grounds.

“The response is positive and the private sector, ordinary citizens, young and older people are sharing their talent and time to volunteer,” Soliman said.

Soliman expects the number of volunteers to increase by Wednesday, August 21.

Rappler created page where volunteers can sign up. 

SIGN UP AND VOLUNTEER: #MovePH: A #ReliefPH call for help

It has also compiled a list of evacuation centers and relief donation centers for victims.

READ: #ReliefPH: Help tropical storm ‘Maring’ victims

If you are organizing a relief drive or are accepting relief donations, let us know by tweeting @moveph or emailing us at move.ph@rappler.com. Use the hashtag #ReliefPH. – Rappler.com