Caloy moving out of RP;
death toll reportedly at 42

Typhoon Caloy on Monday continued to move out of the Philippine area of responsibility, leaving in its wake at least 37 dead and 15 wounded in Visayas and southern sections of Luzon. The death toll could rise as casualty reports continue to reach national disaster agencies. The latest data come from Negros Occidental officials who reported at least five more typhoon-related deaths. An official report from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) placed the casualty count at 37 deaths, 15 injured and 10 missing. The OCD listed only one fatality in Negros Occidental, but the Bacolod City-based Provincial Disaster Management Team (PDMT) said a total of six people have already died from the province. PDMT identified the casualties as Romel and Army Berjamen, Renato Cagalawan and Aladino Dolorosa. Two males were unidentified as of posting time. It also said three fishermen were missing. State weather forecasters said Monday typhoon Caloy (international name: Chanchu) maintained its strength but was moving farther from Luzon. Caloy was last spotted some 490 kms west southwest of Iba, Zambales. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) did not raise public storm signal warnings, but said light to moderate rains may still affect the country. Government reports said some 10,162 families or 53,307 people in 174 villages have lost their homes because of the weather disturbance. Some 435 families or 2,144 persons remained in evacuation areas as of Monday noon. PDMT officials in Bacolod said the six fatalities they reported died either by electrocution or drowning. The missing fishermen - who were last seen boarding the "Baby and Mark" boat last May 11 - were identified as Solgen Locsin, Toto de la Cruz and Banhaw dela Cruz. Melvin Tierro of the PDMT said they are checking reports that three fishermen were found along the shores of Cebu. Tierro told GMANews.TV that Dolorosa, one of the casualties, died due to "over-exposure to the elements and starvation after drifting at sea for two days." The 58-year old Dolorosa allegedly left his house in Barangay (village) Daga in Cadiz City last May 11 to look for his mentally-ill son, identified as Glenn, who was supposedly last seen by their neighbors heading toward the sea. The elderly man reportedly set out in his small outrigger and was found by residents of Carles, Iloilo around 4 p.m. of May 13. He was supposedly rushed to a hospital in Balasan town but died early evening Saturday. RAMPAGE The OCD pegged Caloy's damage to property at 965 totally damaged houses and 5,556 partially damaged houses. Some P40 million worth of infrastructure, like school buildings and ports, as well as agricultural products, such as fish cages, boats and crops, was also reported. In Sablayan town in Mindoro Oriental, the typhoon partially damaged some 4,100 hectares of agricultural lands planted with palay (rice), corn and banana. The San Andres port in Catanduanes was also reportedly damaged, while the covered court of Burunga and the Nabas police station in Aklan were partially destroyed. The bridge linking the villages of Buyuan, Tigbauan and Nanga in Guimbal, Iloilo was also partially damaged, making it difficult for local disaster officials to reach the affected villages. The OCD also reported that power has yet to be restored in Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Albay. Roads and a highway in Mindoro Oriental were rendered impassable because of fallen electric posts. Communication in Bicol is still down allegedly due to "backbone problems" experienced by the region's two communication carriers in their fiber optic lines. Meanwhile, prices of basic goods in the affected areas have gone up, with prices of tilapia going up from P60 to 80 a kilogram; galunggong from P60 to 70 a kilogram; and shrimp from P150 to 320 a kilogram. Similarly, prices of eggplants, string beans and cabbages went up by up to P50 a kilogram, while pork and beef went up by P10 a kilogram.-GMANews.TV