THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) assured on Wednesday, August 28, that they will continue to provide relief assistance to hundreds of families affected by the twin storms that walloped northern Luzon.
Ilocos Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Director Marcel Tabije said they are distributing relief packs containing canned goods, rice and ready to eat food.
Two tropical cyclones, Ineng (international name Bailu) and Jenny (Podul) dumped rains on the northern regions of Luzon and enhanced the southwest monsoon or habagat, in the rest of the country.
The Ilocos region took the brunt of the two weather systems.
A report from the NDRRMC said that as of Tuesday, August 27, a total of 14,330 families or 60,437 persons from 215 barangays were evacuated due to severe flooding during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Ineng.
Two persons were killed. One drowned while another was buried under mud due to a landslide.
Two others were injured after their house was hit by a landslide.
The report said 68 houses, of which 24 were destroyed and 45 were damaged, were affected in the Ilocos region.
Tabije said they were continuously receiving assistance from the Office of the Civil Defense, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other concerned government agencies and private companies to ensure the welfare of the affected population.
He said they will conduct a series of meetings together with the local government officials to identify what needs to be done after placing the province of Ilocos Norte under a state of calamity.
Damage to infrastructure, crops, fisheries and livestock was estimated at P1.2 billion.
“Nagpapasalamat din naman kami at hindi na masyadong ramdam dito sa amin ang epekto ng Bagyong Jenny kasi halos isang buwan na ulan ng ulan dito na nagpapalambot ng lupa at nagdudulot ng mga pagbaha,” Tabije said.
Meanwhile, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said the NDRRMC remains on blue alert to ensure heightened preparedness and continuous coordination and information dissemination with the local government units affected by the weather disturbance.
Timbal said they are expecting less damage from the onslaught of Tropical Storm Jenny, which was weaker than Ineng.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Jenny has slightly weakened after it made landfall in Aurora province on Tuesday evening.
However, it said it has “re-intensified” as it exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Pagasa said Jenny is expected to be outside PAR on Wednesday afternoon. (SunStar Philippines)