2 more dead in Phl floods

MANILA, Philippines - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) placed yesterday the number of fatalities due to the severe weather phenomenon sweeping Mindanao, Visayas and Southern Luzon at 42 with the recovery of two more unidentified bodies in Catanduanes the other day.

The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the NDRRMC, also announced the suspension of classes in elementary and high schools in the towns of Jipapad, Oras, Maslog and Dolores in Eastern Samar until the weather improves.

“We are suspending classes in these four towns and underlying villages to spare the students from falling victim to the prevailing calamity,” NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said.

Over the past two weeks the weather in Eastern Visayas as well in Mindanao and Southern Luzon has become erratic and unpredictable.

“DepEd is also looking at other areas severely affected by widespread flooding, especially in the Caraga region, to determine whether to suspend classes,” Ramos said.

He also announced the rescue of eight fishermen from Camarines Sur by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Search and Rescue Team.

The eight were reported missing three days ago and spotted by the PCG search team stranded at Animisola Island in Masbate along with their fishing boats, MB/Gani and MB/Camil.

The rescued fishermen were identified as Oscar Recarte, Giovani Recarte, Loloy Coralde, Rachel Riflora, Danilo Tejares, Danny Tejares, Boyet Barraquel, and Ricardo Riflora, all of Barangay Duran, Balatan, Camarines Sur.

Billions damaged, millions affected

Ramos said the trail of destruction to agriculture, infrastructure as well as private property by the current flooding and landslides in Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon has already breached the P1-billion mark.

Citing field reports, Ramos said the estimated damage has already amounted to P1,045,713,449.80 broken down as follows: agriculture, P337,624,878.80; infrastructure, P686,092,271 and private property, P20,965.

On one hand, the national government through its line agencies as well as non-government organizations (NGOS) have so far provided P36,962,492.37 in assistance to the displaced families, which as of yesterday totaled 1,340,015 people.

The displaced individuals came from 1,429 barangays out of 146 municipalities and 15 cities in Mindanao, Visayas and Southern Luzon, which are still experiencing moderate to heavy rains and flooding.

P-Noy wants illegal logging stopped

Meanwhile, President Aquino vowed to go after illegal loggers, citing the denudation of forests as one major reason why many people were suffering from extreme flooding.

The President will be in Butuan City, Albay and Southern Leyte today to distribute relief goods and assess what else can be done to assist the victims of floods and landslides.

“I think we’ll be making an announcement with regard to logging. As you know, the trees are our first defense against all these floods and it pains me that illegal logging continues,” he said.

Aquino said he met with Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, who showed him pictures of the recent devastation in an area that was already subjected to flooding.

“So we will take very strong actions,” the President said, adding that the tail-end of the cold front was still affecting the country and the destruction caused by this would be his priority.

Aquino said he was particularly interested in the case of St. Bernard town in Leyte and was hoping the weather would cooperate so he could see first hand the situation of the victims of the flooding in the provinces.

He said he could not understand why landslides were still occurring in St. Bernard when relocation of residents had supposedly been done.

The President is expected to arrive at the Butuan City airport at noon to personally turn over government assistance to the people displaced by the mass flooding and landslides in the region.

He will be briefed on the effects of the weather condition in Caraga by Regional Director Blanche Gonbenciong of the Office of the Civil Defense 13 and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 13.

The President will then turn over the goods from agencies including the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to respective recipients at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines office.

The provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and the city of Butuan will receive three shallow tube wells, two boxes of assorted vegetable seeds and 50 bags of palay seeds each from the DA.

Apart from these, one box of assorted medicine and supplies worth P26,691 will also be given to each recipient from the DOH as well as some 1,200 family food packs containing rice, canned goods and noodles from the DSWD.

The President will also extend assistance to victims in the provinces of Albay and Southern Leyte. – Danny Dangcalan, Charlie Lagasca