By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

In a virtual briefing held on Wednesday, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Bernardo Alejandro IV and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla discussed updates about the government’s ongoing response to those affected by the onslaught of Tropical Storm Crising (international name: Wipha) and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat), as well as preparations for Tropical Storm Dante (international name: Francisco) and Tropical Depression Emong.

Alejandro discussed the latest statistics regarding the impact of TS Crising and the monsoon rains in various parts of the country. He noted that as of press time, agricultural losses on corn, rice and other high-value crops amounted to P217.5 million.

Moreover, he announced the human toll of the storm and torrential downpours that swept across most of Luzon and some areas in Visayas and Mindanao, with 7 casualties, 7 injuries, and 8 missing individuals.

So far, only two of the fatalities have been confirmed: one in Northern Mindanao and another in the Caraga region. The other five reported deaths, two from Northern Mindanao and one each in MIMAROPA, Davao Region, and National Capital Region (NCR), are still being verified by the authorities.

Preparations for TS Dante, TD Emong

Alejandro, meanwhile, discussed the progress of government preparations for TS Dante and TD Emong vis-à-vis ongoing disaster response efforts for families affected by Crising and monsoon rains.

Across the archipelago, the AFP has deployed 15,000 search, rescue and retrieval assets (SRR); Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has 26,000 personnel on standby; and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has 5,000 personnel ready for disaster response. 

This was supplemented by the three million family food packs (FFPs) that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepositioned in various warehouses in the country.

Ten mobile emergency teams are also on standby to ensure that electricity and communications services are up and running during the calamities.

Various air assets composed of 28 rotary aircraft and 9 fixed-wing aircraft, coupled with 19 Philippine Navy (PN) vessels, 23 PCG vessels, and numerous small rescue vessels from BFP will be deployed to ensure disaster response. The AFP and BFP will also deploy 1,600 vehicles and 3,000 firetrucks, respectively.

Moreover, Spokesperson Padilla told reporters that reservists from the Marines, Navy, and Air Force are now helping in disaster operations and will also form part of the preparations for TS Dante and TD Emong.

Nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites were also activated and would serve as strategic hubs for repacking relief goods, staging disaster response assets, and receiving international aid, in accordance with the mandate of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on cohesive disaster efforts.

Padilla also noted that the AFP is working in close coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and various LGUs to reach affected areas.

“Ang inyong Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas stands firm with the Filipino people. Patuloy po kaming makikipagtulungan sa NDRRMC at [mga LGU] para rumesponde, maprotektahan ang inyong buhay, and ensure essential services that would be able to reach affected communities,” Padilla concluded in her statement at the virtual briefing.

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