The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday around 513 families or 2,734 persons had been affected so far by Tropical Storm “Aghon.”
In its 8:00 a.m. update, the agency said affected individuals are residing in 18 barangays in Regions 5 (Bicol) and 8 (Eastern Visayas).
Of this number, 34 families or 523 persons are being served in eight evacuation centers while the rest are being aided outside.
The Office of Civil Defense earlier said affected families include those displaced and those not needing transfer or removal from their residence.
There are no confirmed casualties related to “Aghon,” although four injuries in Region 5 are still undergoing confirmation as of this posting.
The NDRRMC also reported that some 5,969 passengers along with 40 vessels, 10 motor bancas, and 987 rolling cargoes, were stranded in the ports of Regions 4-A (Calabarzon), 4-B (Mimaropa), Bicol, 7 (Central Visayas), and Eastern Visayas due to inclement weather conditions.
There were also a total of 21 houses damaged in Eastern Visayas, with 17 partially and four totally.
DHSUD on alert
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has also put on standby its shelter clusters nationwide.
By authority of DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, Undersecretary for Disaster Response Randy Escolango issued a memorandum on Saturday, May 25, placing the Department’s Regional Offices 1 to 8, 11, 13, Cordillera Administrative Region and National Capital Region on standby effective immediately.
The DHSUD regional offices were instructed to closely monitor their respective areas of jurisdiction and facilitate emergency response and humanitarian assistance as needed.
The regional directors, meanwhile, are enjoined to coordinate with the respective shelter cluster members within their regions and convene using all available means.
“In times like this, it is better to anticipate the risks early on to make sure that we can cover the shelter needs of our kababayans who will be affected. Secretary Acuzar assures that DHSUD is ready to help,” Escolango said in a news release yesterday.
The DHSUD has an ongoing partnership with the International Organization for Migration which provides shelter-grade tarpaulins through DHSUD for deployment to affected residents in local government units.
To ensure real-time reporting and corresponding actions, the regional directors are directed to submit a daily situational report not later than noon. (PNA)