Palace: Funds on standby for relief of monsoon rains victims

Malacañang on Saturday said it is monitoring the situation amid the heavy rainfall brought by the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and funds are on standby for those affected by the weather disturbance.

“We are closely monitoring the weather situation, especially flood-prone and landslide-prone areas, where heavy rainfall warning brought by the southwest monsoon has been raised,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

The Palace official said the Department of Social Welfare and Development Central Office and its field offices have standby funds amounting to P849.5 million and prepositioned goods amounting to P169.18 million.

“Also, there are other food and non-food items amounting to P676.5 million,” Roque said.  

“These are readily available to augment the resources of the local government units (LGUs). As to assistance provided, the LGUs have initially extended assistance to affected families in Orion and Samal, Bataan, San Antonio, Zambales and in Balbalan, Kalinga,” he said.

Pre-emptive evacuation for 3,316 families and 14,023 persons have been conducted, which include 3,077 families and 13,225 persons in Marikina as of July 24, 2021, 10 a.m., Roque said, citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Meanwhile, power supply in six cities/municipalities out of the 10 cities/municipalities which experienced power interruption/outage have been restored.

“The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has conducted clearing operations in Brgy Sta Rosa in Alaminos in Laguna and Igdalaquit in Tobias Fornier, Antique,” Roque said.

“Also, there are road and other clearing operations in Pag-asa, Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro; Embrangga-an in Barbaza, Antique; Loacan and Virac in Itogon, Benguet; Alno, La Trinidad in Benguet; Taloy Sur in Tuba, Benguet,” he added.

The Philippine Coast Guard assisted residents in Naic, Cavite in evacuating on Saturday morning due to flooding.

Dinala sila sa barangay hall ng Barangay Bucana Sasahan, Naic, Cavite na nagsisilbi bilang pansamantalang evacuation center. #DOTrPH ????????#CoastGuardPH#MaritimeSectorWorks pic.twitter.com/DPS98lK0MM

— Philippine Coast Guard (@coastguardph) July 24, 2021

PAGASA earlier said monsoon rains will be experienced on Saturday in several areas in Luzon such as Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Abra, Benguet, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Northern Palawan including Calamian Islands. —KG, GMA News