DSWD: 1.6 million locals affected due to LPA trough in Mindanao

INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The number of persons affected by the trough of a low pressure area (LPA) that inundated Mindanao has climbed to 1,603,514, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported on Wednesday.

This translates to 451,089 affected families across 841 barangays (villages) in Davao Region, Soccskargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said DSWD’s progress report issued at 6 a.m.

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It further said that the department is monitoring the situation of over 316,000 displaced persons, of which 18,945 are residing in 89 evacuation centers.

Among those living in evacuation centers are 232 infants and 31 pregnant women, it added.

The rest of the displaced Mindanao folk, DSWD explained, are seeking temporary shelter with their friends or relatives.

As of Wednesday, the department said that it had provided a total of P189,228,601 worth of humanitarian assistance to the affected Mindanaoans.

Meanwhile, in a separate situational report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) issued on Wednesday, 244 areas are still flooded in Davao Region, Caraga, and BARMM.

A total of 1,603 houses were also damaged across the three regions, the NDRRMC reported.

The agency estimated that the LPA’s trough caused damage to infrastructure amounting to P827,075,125.

Damage to agriculture, on the other hand, cost an estimated P212,544,830 affecting 9,940 farmers and fisherfolk, it added.