Marcos leads situation briefing on Habagat effects

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday morning presided over a situation briefing with Cabinet officials at Malacañang Palace to assess the impact of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said that aside from Marcos, the meeting was attended by Cabinet members who are monitoring the combined effects of the Habagat and Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay.

"The President ordered that immediate steps be taken to ensure all affected residents are reached, especially those in remote areas,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.

“The President also ensured that assistance is provided to everyone affected, including residents who have returned to their homes from evacuation centers,” she added.

Citing data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Castro said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed P39.37 million worth of aid to Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

The DSWD also has a total of P1.61 billion standby funds that could be used to respond to the situation, she added.

The NDRRMC said that as of 8 a.m. Monday, 585,993 individuals or 170,593 families were affected across nine regions due to the combined effects of the enhanced Southwest Monsoon and Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay. —AOL, GMA News