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Philippines

Update on LPA and status of areas affected by the past landslide and flooding incidents

  1. Weather Condition and Update on the Effects of LPA (downgraded TD Zigzag):
    Synopsis:

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) across Mindanao. Diffused tail end of cold front affecting eastern Visayas.

Forecast:

Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over Samar provinces. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers mostly over the western section.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters of these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate from the norteast with slight to moderate seas.

With the lifting of the public storm signal and downgrading of TD Zigzag to LPA, the volume of stranded passengers and vehicles is expected to decrease/dissipate as trips bound to island provinces resumed today.

In Bgy Lonoy, Maasin City, Southern Leyte, 36 persons were evacuated and stayed with relatives due to cracks found along mountain slopes near their houses. OCD-OPCEN requested Maasin City Engineering Office to conduct an assessment in the area and make the necessary recommendations to the CDCC.

2. Status of Areas Affected by the Past Landslide and Flooding Incidents 2.1 Status of Evacuees

There was a marked decrease in the number of evacuees in the number of evacuees in seven (7) evacuation centers. The number went down from 613 families or 3,025 persons to 209 families or 617 persons, broken down as follows:

Regions Province
Total Number of Evacuees
No. of Evac. Centers
Families Persons
CARAGA Agusan Norte
39
134
2
Agusan del Sur
None
None
Surigao del Norte
None
None
VIII San Ricardo
140
319
2
San Francisco
24
120
2
Liloan
6
44
1
Total 209 617
7

2.2 Casualties

Region Province
Casualties
Cause
Dead Inj Mis
VII Bohol
4
Flashflood
VIII Southern Leyte
154
40
20
Landslides
XI Compostela Valley
2
6
Landslides
XII South Cotabato
3
Flashflood
CARAGA Agusan and Surigao Provinces
41
11
Flashfloods/ Landslide
Total
200
57
24

2.3 Damage to Houses

Region
Partially Damaged
Totally Destroyed
Total
VIII
413
196
609
XI
4
24
28
CARAGA
208
184
392
Total
625
404
1029

2.4 Damage to Infrastructure and Agriculture

CARAGA Region incurred the most damage in terms of damage to agriculture, infrastructure and private properties (mostly on houses).

Region
Infra
Agriculture
Private Prop
Total
VIII
24.150M
13.659M
37.810M
XI
23.560M
32.951M
.010 M
56.521M
XII
.020M
.090M
-
.110M
CARAGA
178.689M
86.772M
3.185M
268.646M
Total
P226.419M
P133.472M
P 3.195M
P 363.087M

2.5 Status of Lifelines Southern

Leyte

Except for San Ricardo, power and water supply have been restored already

CARAGA

Jabonga, Agusan del Sur -- power is 90% restored, communication facilites have been completely restored while the water system remain non-operational; PDCC Agusan has been providing potable water to the affected area.

Eleven (11) municipalities in Surigao del Sur are still experiencing water shortage due to a damaged reservoir; the communication facilities have been completely restored.

In Surigao City, power, communication and water systems have been fully restored.

Roads- Jabonga, Agusan del Norte - not passable to small vehicles; San Francisco to Bislig, Surigao del Sur - not passable to all types of vehicles due to landslide; Malimono, Surigao del Norte - roads not passable; and San Francisco, Surigao del Norte - 50% passable

3. Update on Search and Rescue Operations in connection with M/L PIA-RY as of 28 Dec 2003

3.1. To date, a total of 27 survivors from the ill-fated M/L PIA-RY were rescued

3.2. There were two (2) casualties; Mr. Jaapar Ajijil, 33 yrs. old and one (1) still unidentified; 46 others are still missing.

4. Actions Taken

4.1 Relief Operations

To date, the amount of relief assistance coming from various donors for the victims of flashfloods and landslides has amounted to P24.849 M, broken down as follows:

Donors
Amount of Assistance
International Assistance
P 18.250 M
Local and national agencies
2.614 M
NGOs and civic-minded citizens
.570 M
NDCC Rice Assistance (3,125 sacks)
3.082 M
Total
P 24.516M

Region VIII

On going activities undertaken by PDCC Southern Leyte are the following: food distribution, clearing operations, restoration of power and communication facilities and assessment of needs in the affected areas for immediate restoration and rehabilitation.

The PDCC of Southern Leyte distributed relief goods in Liloan, San Francisco, San Ricardo and Maasin City out of locally generated donations. Enclosed is an updated lists of various donations in kind, cash and checks amounting to P1,662,768.00.

As of Dec 26, 2003, 793 families or 2,999 persons were served in 12 evacuation centers.

Residents of Barangays Cuasi and Marayag in San Francisco are isolated and are in dire need of assistance. Relief goods will be dropped off today at the Parish Center to be distributed by volunteers "Off Road Riders" from Ormoc City.

Region XI

Relief operations in the flood-stricken areas continue. The 500 sacks authorized by NDCC will be distributed as follows:

Davao del Norte -- 250 (100 in Carmen, 50 in Braulio Dujali, 50 in Sto Tomas and 50 in Kapalong ) Comval province -- 250 (100 in Monkayo, 50 in Bataan, 50 in Montevista and 50 in Mawab)

4.2 Areas Declared Under a State of Calamity

Agusan del Norte - (Municipalities of Jabonga and RT Romualdez) Surigao del Sur -- (Tandag) Province of Southern Leyte Tagum City Province of Surigao Del Norte