‘Habagat’ affects more than 85K families: NDRRMC

MANILA — Heavy rains, caused by the southwest monsoon (habagat) enhanced by tropical storm “Yagi” (formerly “Karding”) has affected some 88,131 families or around 382,996 persons in six regions.

In its update Sunday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said most of those affected are residents of Regions 1, 2, 4A, 6, Cordillera Administrative Region and the National Capital Region.

“Relief operations continue in affected areas through the Department of Social Welfare and Development as the cluster lead for Food and Non-Food Items and Camp Coordination and Camp Management,” it said.

In the same update, the agency said the NDRRM Operations Center in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, has raised its alert status to “red” at 8 a.m. Sunday and the Response Cluster was activated to closely monitor relief efforts and assistance to affected communities.

Medicines and other medical supplies and equipment are being dispensed in various evacuation centers and other affected areas through the Department of Health (DOH) while the Department of Education (DepEd) is closely monitoring the school facilities affected and those used as evacuation centers, the NDRRMC added.

Rapid emergency telecommunication teams also facilitated the coordination of response efforts in various affected areas.

“To date, more than PHP105 million cost of assistance has been provided to the affected population,” the agency said.

As more heavy rains are expected, residents in flood-prone and low-lying areas are advised to heed the call of their local government units regarding pre-emptive evacuation.

The Response Cluster also convened on Sunday to discuss continuous response efforts for “habagat”-affected communities.

Vice Chair for Response and DSWD Acting Secretary Virginia Orogo presided over the meeting attended by representatives of the cluster’s member-agencies such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Science and Technology-PAGASA, DepEd, DOH, Office of Civil Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, and Philippine Coast Guard.