20 deaths recorded due to Luis, Maymay, Habagat — OCD

At least 20 fatalities nationwide have now been reported due to the combined effects of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and Typhoons Luis and Maymay, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Tuesday.

“Meron naman pong apat na pinaghahanap pa, missing, tsaka meron naman pong 15 na mga injured,” OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(Four people are currently missing, while 15 others sustained injuries.)

According to the agency's latest data, the monsoon rains and typhoons have affected 2.8 million individuals or more than 815,000 families.

Across the government’s 996 evacuation centers, a total of 27,000 families have sought shelter from the inclement weather, which brought widespread flooding and landslides.

Meanwhile, an estimated 19,800 additional families have been displaced and are taking shelter outside official evacuation sites.

The OCD noted that the missing individuals were victims of a landslide. Responders are struggling with search operations due to persistent heavy rainfall and unstable soil.

“‘Yung ito doon po sa mga missing, ito po kasi ‘yung mga dahil doon sa landslide. Ang naging challenge po ng mga responders natin… ‘yung masamang panahon po at saka siyempre malambot ang lupa hindi rin ulit magamitan ng mga heavy equipment,” Castillo said.

(The missing persons were victims of the landslide incident. The main challenge for our responders is the continuous bad weather and the soft ground, which prevents us from deploying heavy equipment.)

He added that of the two missing individuals in the Baguio landslide incident, responders used water flushing techniques to clear the mud and debris.

Across the affected areas in Region I, Region III, the Cordillera Administrative Region, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA, the OCD reported that national agencies have distributed P75 million worth of relief assistance.

Castillo highlighted that the prepositioning of food and non-food items prior to the severe weather helped authorities respond quickly to affected communities, despite road blockages and travel difficulties.

As of Tuesday, the OCD noted power outages in at least 18 areas, which are currently being restored by the Department of Energy and local electric cooperatives.

Meanwhile, two areas reported disrupted water supplies while essential food items and relief services — including water filtration units — are being provided to these communities.

Regarding communication lines, Castillo confirmed that no signal disruptions have been reported. However, standby generators and ICT equipment have been prepositioned in regions expected to be affected by weather impacts.

In a separate interview on Tuesday, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) stated that joint clearing operations with other government agencies are underway.

Addressing the reported road blockages in Laurel, Batangas, BFP spokesperson FSupt. Anthony Arroyo confirmed that all affected roads are now passable.

“Nagsagawa rin tayo ng flashing sa mga makakapal na putik… at yung mga clearing operation ng mga puno naitabi na natin. So far po ang pinaka-latest na information… madadaanan na po ang lahat ng daan doon sa Laurel, Batangas,” Arroyo said.

(We conducted flushing operations to clear thick mud, and fallen trees have been moved to the roadside. Based on the latest updates, all roads in Laurel, Batangas are now passable.)

The BFP urged residents to comply immediately with evacuation orders issued by local authorities. Amid rising floodwaters, the agency also warned the public against the risk of leptospirosis.

Arroyo advised citizens to prepare emergency "Go Bags" and to avoid standing or parking vehicles near trees and utility poles.

“Pakiusap po, mag-imbak din po ng Go Bag. ‘Yung mga mahahalagang dokumento ilagay sa Go Bag na ‘yan, mga pagkain, kandila, posporo, gamot, mga paunang lunas, flashlight at iba pang mga cash o baterya,” Arroyo said.

(We urge everyone to prepare a Go Bag. Keep important documents, food, candles, matches, medicine, first-aid kits, flashlights, extra batteries, and emergency cash inside.)

For immediate emergencies, the BFP advises the public to dial 911. — BAP, GMA News