ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- The city council of Iloilo has declared 40 flooded villages here under a state of calamity.

The declaration, made during a special city council session held on Friday, will enable the city government to extend immediate assistance to some 40,000 people displaced by floods brought about by tropical storm "Cosme" (international codename: Halong)

City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Clarita Dignadice said they have recorded a total of 9,315 families affected by the flooding in the districts of Jaro, La Paz, Arevalo and Mandurriao.

The district of Jaro is the most affected, with 7,057 families dislocated.

Moreover, the CSWDO reported 46,575 affected individuals; eight houses destroyed; and 24 houses damaged. It has already served 8,848 families with relief goods consisting of rice, canned sardines instant noodles.

According to Disaster Coordinating Council head Jose Papa, the Jaro River overflowed its banks as early as Wednesday morning.

Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the councils of the affected villages would also allocate their five percent calamity fund for emergency food assistance to families adversely affected by the floods.