Some 21 individuals lost their lives during the height of Super Typhoon “Carina,” which intensified the southwest monsoon or “habagat,” the Philippine National Police reported on Thursday.
The PNP said Calabarzon accounted for 11 fatalities — three from Cavite, three from Rizal and five from Batangas, while Central Luzon had three fatalities and Metro Manila had seven.
Aside from Metro Manila, Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan and Bulacan provinces already declared a state of calamity due to massive floods during the onslaught of “Carina,” Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said.
The declaration would unlock additional funds for calamity response and impose a price freeze on basic goods.
At least 1,115,272 persons have been impacted by the weather disturbance, and while “Carina” moved along Luzon, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) bore the brunt with over 567,000 people affected, the NDRRMC said.
Damage to agriculture was estimated at P9.7 million, with northern Mindanao posting the heaviest loss at P6.6 million.
Class openings in affected areas could be moved to a later date instead of on July 29, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
“We will not push schools that are heavily hit and are greatly affected to open their classes,” he said.
President Marcos, for his part, said he will start working relief packages for local government units after personally inspecting the situation and providing assistance to residents in Valenzuela and Navotas.
Mr. Marcos said he will be visiting more areas to find out the needs of victims, especially those who suffered severe flooding.
“We’ll be putting together already the relief packages for the LGUs,” the President said.
“We will put that all together so that we can go to DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and tell them to release this already So it can already be used by our officials,” he added.
The DBM earlier said the government still has some P11.123 billion in calamity funds for this year.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Death toll from ‘Carina,’ Habagat rise to 21—PNP“
