THE death toll from severe tropical storm “Paeng” rose yesterday to 150 individuals, with 36 others still missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
The increase was attributed to 29 fatalities recorded, in addition to the 121 the Camp Aguinaldo-based agency reported as of Wednesday morning.
Twenty-one of the 29 newly-recorded fatalities were in the Calabarzon region, two each in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Cagayan Valley region, and one each in the Soccsksargen, Mimaropa, Central Luzon, and Bicol regions.
Overall, 63 deaths were recorded in BARMM, 33 in Calabarzon, 29 in Western Visayas, five in Eastern Visayas, four each in Zamboanga Peninsula and Soccsksargen, three in Mimaropa, one in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and two each in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Bicol.
The NDRRMC said 94 of deaths have been “confirmed” — 63 in BARMM, 28 in Western Visayas, and three in Soccsksargen. The rest are still subject to validation.
It also said 28 were injured due to Paeng and 36 are still missing — 17 in BARMM, 11 in Western Visayas, five in Calabarzon and one each in Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas and CAR.
The NDRRMC said 1,131,409 families or 3,963,555 persons in all the country’s 17 regions have been affected by Paeng. Of the number, 462,042 families or 1,405,193 individuals have been displaced.
As of yesterday morning, the number of displaced was down to 398,748 families or 1,196,606 individuals who are either housed in 2,094 evacuation centers or staying with relatives or friends.
The NDRRMC placed the combined cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture at P5.27 billion.
MAGUINDANAO
Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, on Wednesday said they have terminated the search and retrieval operations for four missing individuals who were buried by a landslide in Barangay Kusiong in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao.
“Actually, we already terminated the retrieval (operation), we are now in the rehabilitation (mode). There are four still missing. Our K-9 dogs can no longer detect anything,” said Galido.
A community in the barangay was buried by a landslide last Friday due to rains brought by Paeng. Galido said they have retrieved 21 bodies in the landslide area.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority deployed a 28-man contingent to assist communities in Maguindanao.
MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes said the team will help local officials in delivering assistance to their constituents, adding they also brought with them 40 water purification machines which can filter 180 gallons of water per hour.
“The team will set up water purifiers in various communities with limited to no supply of clean water. Some will also help in the ongoing operations to clear the roads affected by massive flooding and landslide,” he said.
Artes said the team will stay in Maguindanao for about 15 days before returning to Metro Manila.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed all government agencies to prioritize the delivery of drinking water to the typhoon victims.
DAMAGE
The NDRRMC said the cost of damage to infrastructure in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen and CAR was placed at P2.83 billion.
Meanwhile, the cost of damage to agriculture in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, BARMM and CAR was placed at P2.44 billion.
The NDRRMC said 12,968 were “partially damaged” by Paeng and 2,194 others were “totally damaged.” The cost of damage to houses was placed at P17.2 million.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said partial cost of damage to national roads, bridges, and flood control structures has reached P2.09 billion.
Citing a report from the DPWH Bureau of Maintenance, total cost of damage, subject for field validation, on national roads was placed at P917.80 million, P523.80 million on national bridges, and P652.76 million on flood control structures.
By location, CAR incurred P227.02 million in infrastructure damage, Region 1 with P58.40 million, Region 2 P61.03 million, Region 3 P54.50 million, Region 4-A P967.09 million, Region 4-B P130.40 million, Region 5 P74.83 million, Region 6 P150.41 million, Region 7 P8 million, Region 8 P60 million, Region 12 P102.68 million, and BARMM with P200 million.
The DPWH said as of yesterday, 24 road sections in CAR, Regions 2, 3, 4-A, 6, 8, 12, and BARMM remained closed to traffic due to damaged pavement/slope protection, road cut, collapsed bridge, damaged bridge approach, flooding, and fallen debris, among others.
Of the total 24 road sections, 12 are located in Luzon, six in the Visayas, and six in Mindanao areas.
AID
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said P119.64 million worth of assistance has been provided to the affected families.
The department has also provided P12.827 million worth of financial
assistance to 4,428 beneficiaries in Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, BARMM, and CAR.
Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo yesterday relieved DSWD Field Office IV-A regional director Barry Chua and assistant regional director Mylah Gatchalian following the complaint of Noveleta, Cavite Mayor Dino Chua that the department had been asking too many documents from his constituents who were flooded and evacuated, to receive any aid.
Tulfo, in a briefing, said DSWD Assistant Secretary Marites Maristela will be in charge of the FO IV-A while the two officials would be reporting to the Office of the Secretary starting Thursday pending investigations on the issue.
“We are asking for forgiveness from Cavite especially from Noveleta… Mayor, since you complained I will act on the problem now, the investigation will be fair. I will make sure that this situation never happens again,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.
He said an initial probe showed that members of the DSWD regional field office asked for some documents or identification to verify who are in the list of beneficiaries.
Chua said many of his constituents were asking for help and did not receive any after the DSWD asked for a certificate of indigency, barangay clearance, and identification cards.
He said his constituents were flooded and unable to save anything or bring anything with them, especially those who were evacuated.
He added that during the visit of President Marcos Jr. to Cavite over the weekend, only 20 percent of the thousands of his constituents who need help received relief packs due to the DSWD requirements.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri made the rounds in three provinces and two cities in Mindanao to deliver relief goods to affected areas.
Zubiri said he turned over 1,500 sacks of rice to the LGUs in Zamboanga City, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Cotabato City, and Sultan Kudarat.
He said the rice was privately sourced and no government funds were used in its procurement or distribution.
“Paeng really battered Mindanao… The storm left a wreck across the country, but the damage and the loss here in Mindanao is especially devastating… Mindanao will be needing sustained aid after Paeng,” he said.
He, however, said donating relief goods is only part of a temporary solution, adding it is high time that government “streamline our response system.”
He said the effects of the typhoon will surely be tackled when the Senate deliberates on the proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023. — With Ashzel Hachero, Jocelyn Montemayor, Myla Iglesias, and Raymond Africa
