600,000 people affected by ‘Maring’

SLEX flood. Contributed photo by Mannix Pabalan

MANILA, Philippines – More than 600,000 people in six regions were affected by tropical storm “Maring” and the enhanced southwest monsoon as of Tuesday morning, according to a report by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The report posted online by the Official Gazette said 125,024 families or 601,114 persons were affected by the intermittent rains and flooding in the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A and 4-B.

The DSWD noted a substantial increase in the number of people affected in Region 4-A or Calabarzon, from 14,198 families or 69,242 persons on Monday to 26,120 families or 130,119 persons on Tuesday morning.

However, Region 3 remained as the area with the most number of storm victims with 234 barangays and 85,698 families or 408,214 persons affected.

At least 503 barangays, 50 towns, 22 cities and 15 provinces in Luzon were affected by “Maring” and the southwest monsoon.

The agency is currently monitoring 199 evacuation centers that are serving a total of 9,153 families or 40,740 persons. More than twice that number–19,140 families or 90,458 persons–are staying with friends and relatives in higher areas.

The DSWD said combined resources from the agency, the local government and non-government organizations have raised P4.5 million for humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, P120.64 million worth of emergency relief resources, in the form of standby fund (P15.72 million), 60,177 family food packs (P15 million), other relief items (P89.9 million) have been distributed in advance to the affected regions.