‘Ofel’ dead now up to 27—NDRRMC

NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos.

Three more drowning victims were recovered by authorities in Batangas and Sorsogon over the weekend, bringing to 27 the death toll from Tropical Storm “Ofel,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday.

Undersecretary Benito Ramos, NDRRMC executive director, said the body of Redon Jake Dote was found by local disaster response officials in Batangas City while the body of an unidentified female was recovered in San Juan, Batangas, on Monday morning.

He said the body of another drowning victim, John Michael Castillo, was found by residents of Barangay Sta. Remedios, Bulan, Sorsogon.

“We anticipate improved weather conditions in the next few days as we have yet to monitor any incoming weather disturbance,” Ramos told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, adding that the flooding in other provinces had receded.

The NDRRMC said some P55.3-million worth of infrastructure and agricultural products were damaged by the storm in Bicol, Mimaropa and Eastern Visayas. Marlon Ramos