Deaths due to cyclones rise to 23; over 1M people in 13 regions affected

RICE FIELD GONE This vast rice field at Barangay Abongay in Taytay, Palawan, is submerged in floodwaters on Tuesday due to heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Tropical Depression “Gener.” —JHIE SOPRESENCIA/CONTRIBUTOR

MANILA, Philippines — Three more people have died due to the combined effects of Tropical Cyclones Ferdie, Gener, and Helen and the southwest monsoon (habagat), raising the death toll to 23, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its latest bulletin on Thursday.

Of the 23 deaths, nine were recorded in Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), four each in Western Visayas, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Zamboanga Peninsula, and two in Central Visayas.

On the other hand, 15 individuals were missing—12 in Mimaropa, two in Zamboanga Peninsula, and one in Western Visayas—while another 15 were injured in various parts of the country.

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According to the NDRRMC, 1,061,421 people, or 298,633 families were affected by the weather disturbances in the following regions: Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, BARMM and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Central Luzon accounted for the highest number of affected families at 113,141 or 354,926 individuals.

Displaced families

Around 69,360 families or 18,466 families, were staying in evacuation centers as the NDRRMC reported that 1,008 houses sustained partial damage while 235 were destroyed.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that based on its initial assessment, damage to the farm sector due to Ferdie was at P107.42 million with 1,327 farmers affected in the regions of Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

The volume of production loss was estimated at 4,749 metric tons spanning 1,646 hectares of agricultural areas.

There was no information yet on the estimated damage and losses due to Gener and Helen, according to the DA.

Rice comprised 91.54 percent of the overall damage at P98.74 million, covering 4,340 MT.

Corn came next with 5.65 percent or P6.06 million of the total while high-value crops accounted for 2.78 percent or P2.99 million.

Subject to validation

“These values are subject to validation,” the DA said, adding that it was coordinating with local governments and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to assess the impacts of the cyclones and monsoon on the agriculture sector.

“Best possible efforts are also being undertaken to carry out assistance and appropriate interventions to affected farmers. Furthermore, price monitoring is being conducted for possible changes in the prices of agricultural commodities,” it added.

READ: Storm Ferdie, habagat kill 6 persons, affect over 203,000

Ferdie left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Sept. 14, a day after it entered the country, while Gener and Helen also exited PAR on Sept. 18.