By Brian Campued
The death toll from inclement weather brought by Tropical Storm Enteng (international name: Yagi) and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) has risen to 10, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
In its situational report issued at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the NDRRMC said seven of these fatalities came from Calabarzon, two from Central Visayas, and one from Western Visayas.
Additionally, at least 10 were reported injured from Central Visayas.
All of these casualties, however, are still undergoing validation, the disaster body said.
Meanwhile, the bad weather has affected 37,867 families or about 147,024 individuals across 338 barangays in Bicol, National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.
A total of 8,866 families or 38,058 persons are currently in 218 evacuation centers, while 411 families or around 1,756 individuals are outside the centers.
According to the NDRRMC, at least 17 houses were damaged in Bicol, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas, while three infrastructures were reported damaged in Bicol.
Disaster response
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), for its part, said it has activated its disaster response units in NCR and mobilized personnel and assets to provide immediate assistance in areas affected by the weather disturbances.
The AFP has on standby 11 search, rescue, and retrieval teams, which are composed of six officers and 98 enlisted personnel and equipped with 19 land and seven water assets.
“Our troops are on high alert and ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice. The AFP is fully committed to supporting disaster response efforts and ensuring the safety of our citizens during this challenging time,” AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a statement Monday.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Rex Gatchalian said that the agency is “more than ready and has enough family food packs (FFPs) to assist” all those affected by the weather disturbances.
“Naka-replenish na tayo pero sa dating sa akin nitong Enteng, dahil magli-linger siya ng ilang araw, malamang mauubos na natin ‘yung na-replenish natin. Pero ganoon talaga, we’ll have to keep on replenishing kasi alam natin Typhoon season ngayon. But itong sa Enteng, we’re more than ready. In fact, may mga nakukuha na tayo na request at tuloy-tuloy tayong mag-deploy,” Gatchalian said.
The agency’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) on Tuesday said it is ready to provide augmentation support to affected local government units and has on standby over P2 billion as well as prepositioned goods.
In a social media post, the DRMG said the government has already distributed P16 million worth of humanitarian aid to 80,078 families or about 303,938 individuals in storm-hit areas across Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and NCR.
‘Enteng’ update
As of 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Tropical Storm Enteng re-intensifies over the waters of west Ilocos Norte as it moves west northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour.
The eye of the storm was last monitored 100 km west northwest of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, and packs maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is still up over the western portion of Ilocos Norte, while nine other areas are placed under TCWS No. 1.
TS Enteng is forecast to intensify into a severe tropical storm in the next 12 hours before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday. – av
