Over 490K families affected by bad weather —DSWD

More than 490,000 families have been affected by the bad weather brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday. 

''Mayroon na tayong 490,418 na affected families kung saan ang 14,191 families ang ngayon nakatira sa mga iba’t ibang evacuation centers natin. Mayroon tayong tumatakbo na around 500 na evacuation centers na nakabukas nationwide,'' said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian in a palace briefing. 

(We already have 490,418 affected families wherein 14,191 families are residing in various evacuation centers. Around 500 evacuation centers were also operational nationwide.) 

Gatchalian also said that around 500 evacuation centers are operating and catering to the needs of affected Filipinos amid the continuous rains which resulted in floods in several parts of the country, including Metro Manila. 

Meanwhile, the DSWD said it has released 92,590 family food packs since Tropical Cyclone Crising hit the country, noting that the distribution will continue. 

In its recent situational report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) disclosed that six individuals were reported dead due to Crising, the Habagat, and the low pressure area (LPA).

Damage to infrastructure is currently estimated at P413,020,214 and P54,067,336 for agriculture, according to the NDRRMC.

A state of calamity was also declared in Umingan, Pangasinan.

Rains are also expected to persist as three low pressure areas are being monitored inside and outside the Philippine area of responsibility, state weather bureau PAGASA has said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News