At least 21 deaths have been confirmed after the onslaught of the typhoon Carina-strengthened southwest monsoon, Col. Jean Fajardo, director of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Public Information Office (PIO), said Thursday.
The reported death toll came from three regions: seven in the National Capital Region (NCR), three in Central Luzon and 11 in Calabarzon.
The PNP’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts are currently concentrated in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon, which are severely affected by torrential rains and massive flooding, Ms. Fajardo said.
More than 1.1 million people have been affected by the combined effects of the typhoon Carina-enhanced southwest monsoon and the previous typhoon Butchoy, according to Thursday’s National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) report.
In a situation briefing on Thursday morning, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to provide a detailed and specific report on conditions in the affected areas in order to better distribute the national government’s resources.
“Every province is different, every region is different, this has to be a ‘measured response’… what I am trying to do now is assess the situation, what the national government needs to do to provide the right assistance in a timely manner, because all areas have the need the most help,” Mr. Marcos said in a situation briefing with the Inter-Institutional Council in Malacañang Park, Manila.
As of July 25, nearly 630,000 people are currently displaced and have sought shelter in various evacuation centers.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Development has already released more than 360,000 food parcels for families among the affected regions.
“The 360,000 people that are being picked up there right now have been deployed since last night, but they are all in the ground,” Social Affairs and Development Minister Rex Gatchalian said during the situation briefing.
Mr Gatchalian assured that they will meet the needs of the affected local government units by preparing to distribute an additional 100,000 family food parcels to the affected areas. – Edg Adrian A. Eva