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(UPDATE) Habagat death toll reaches 19

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) latest situational update on the effects of Southwest Monsoon or Hanging Habagat, the death toll now climbed to 19. Of these, nine were landslide victims in Lower Bayanihan, Brgy.Commonwealth, Quezon City; eight were victims of drowning; and two were victims of electrocution.

Four persons were also injured in said landslide in Brgy. Commonwealth; three persons remain missing; and three were already rescued.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported in the NDRRMC update that 454,093 families or 1,953,481 individuals have already been affected in Regions I, III, IV-A, IV-B, VI, and National Capital Region (NCR).

Those being served inside and outside evacuation centers reached 111,079 families or 538,445 individuals.

As of 6 a.m. Thursday, 154 roads and four bridges were declared as “not passable to all types of vehicles in Regions I, II, III, IV-A, VI, CAR, and NCR due to flooding.” Most these roads were reported to have come from the NCR.

Earlier at around 2 a.m., the Marikina River reached an alarming water level state at 19.8m, according to the NDRRMC update. Because of this, all residents were forced to evacuate.

Total damaged houses also went up to 3,035 houses in Regions I, III, IV-A, IV-B, and VI. Of these, 358 were totally damaged.

Severe floodings were recorded in the NCR, Regions I, III, and IV-A, which totaled to 89 affected cities/municipalities. Of these cases, 21 municipalities came from Region IV-A, while 15 cities and 1 municipality came from NCR.

Relief assistance worth ₱126,655,118.38 were extended to the affected families in several regions in the country by the Local Government Units (LGUs), NonGovernment Organizations (NGOs), Department of Health (DOH), and DSWD.

The biggest allocation was provided to the NCR based on the extent of damages recorded in said region.

Search and Rescue (SAR) operations continue with the concerted efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Sent out for SAR operations around Metro Manila were about 9,250 personnel, 247 sea crafts, and 98 vehicles.

A memorandum was issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) addressed to all DILG provincial/city directors, ordering the reactivation of the Local Price Coordinating Councils to prevent hoarding and price increases of basic commodities.

The Office of the Executive Secretary also issued Memorandum Circular No. 34 on Thursday, stating the suspension of classes at all levels in public and private schools in the following regions/provinces: NCR – All Cities; Pangasinan; Pampanga, Bulacan; Zambales and Bataan; Laguna, Rizal (Rodriguez, Cainta, Binangonan, and Angono), Cavite, and Batangas.

Work at government offices in Malolos, Bulacan, Bocaue, Bulacan (Calumpit and San Mateo only), and Pampanga (Angeles City only) were also suspended, except for emergency and relief operations.

A State of Calamity was also declared at NCR: Marikina, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, San Juan, Pasig, Pasay, Caloocan, and Pateros; and Region IV-B: Palawan (Culion, El Nido, and Linacapan only).