By Katrina Gracia Consebido
A total of 48,000 individuals from Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and Calabarzon were affected by the Severe Tropical Storm Florita.
In the Laging Handa briefing on Thursday, Aug. 25, Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said that 12,000 families in 390 barangays in the four regions were hit by Florita.
Based on OCD’s latest data, seven landslide incidents were recorded, as well as 49 flooding incidents and typhoon-related incidents. Three casualties were also reported.
Alejandro said they are already distributing relief assistance to all affected individuals through local government units (LGUs) and with the help of other government agencies including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Tumutulong tayo sa mga LGUs, lalo na ‘yung ating mga DSWD, nakahanda nang tumulong at mag-augment ng kanilang mga resources sa kanilang mga LGUs na nangangailangan,” he said.
The OCD Deputy Administrator for Operations said they are also focusing on helping CAR due to the recent magnitude 7.0 earthquake that devastated the region..
“Naka-concentrate tayo sa CAR, kasi itong CAR ang may after pa ng earthquake. Kaya dito natin tinututok ang tulong natin, kasi kasama naman natin ang ibang ahensiya like DSWD, AFP, ‘yung DILG na tumutulong din sa ibang di masyadong naaapektuhan pero kailangan ng tulong,” he added.
He assured that areas affected by Florita will receive the assistance they need through their respective LGUs. -ag
