Philippines - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA 99/0108
Philippines - Floods
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
11 August 1999

General situation

1. On 8 August 1999, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Manila provided through the Office of the Resident Coordinator an updated list of statistics about the floods and landslides in the Philippines.

2. The NDCC indicates the following casualties and damages as of 8 August:

• 130 people killed and 32 injured. Latest media reports indicate 152 persons killed
• 798 houses have been totally destroyed and 10,964 damaged
• 2,096,341 persons have been affected (418,106 families) and 64,296 have been evacuated (13,437 families)
• Estimated total losses caused by the rains: PHP 686.9 million (approx. USD 18 million), among which PHP 466.3 million (approx. USD 12 million) concern the agricultural sector

National Response

3. The President of the Philippines placed Manila and three hard hit provinces (Rizal, Pangasinan and Pampanga) under a state of calamity to speed up relief work. Besides, the authorities imposed price controls on key commodities in the affected areas.The Government of the Republic of Philippines has so far not asked for international assistance.

4. The NDCC has continued its damage assessment mission. Rescue equipment and personnel has been dispatched, in coordination with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, in support to the existing rescue teams. The National Food Authority released rice ( 2,971 bags) for relief operations. Rolling stores (trucks) were fielded to affected areas in coordination with local officials. Roads and bridges are being restored.

5. OCHA is closely monitoring the situation in cooperation with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Manila.

6. This situation report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone number: +41-22-917 12 34
In case of emergency: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers: Mrs. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Ms. M. Kondo,
OCHA Disaster Response Branch, direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 917 31 31 / 917 19 97

Press to contact: Ms. E. Ponomareva, direct Tel. +41-22-917 23 36

Telex: 414242 OCHA CH
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: info@dha.unicc.org