President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has mobilized a whole-of-government response to assist communities affected by tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, intensified by the southwest monsoon, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced Thursday.
Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development showed that 26,412 families, or 88,738 individuals, across 290 barangays in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were affected. A total of 2,645 families, or 8,312 people, remained displaced in CAR and Regions I, III, and IX. Of these, 2,219 families were staying in 35 evacuation centers, while 426 families temporarily sought shelter with relatives or friends.
More than PHP 1.998 million worth of relief assistance has been distributed, including PHP 1.798 million provided by the DSWD. During a Malacañang briefing, Castro shared that the DSWD reported over five million family food packs prepositioned nationwide and more than PHP 1.6 billion in available standby funds. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was placed on full alert, and strict preemptive evacuations were ordered in areas vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and coastal hazards.
“Sa gitna ng nararanasang sama ng panahon sa ibang bahagi ng bansa dulot ng Tropical Storm Maymay at southwest monsoon, ipinag-utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang kahandaan ng pamahalaan upang masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga residente sa mga apektadong lugar,” said Castro.
“Sa ngayon po nakapag distribute na po tayo ng family food packs and ready-to-eat-food boxes sa affected communities to address their immediate needs,” noted DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority placed rescue personnel and equipment on standby, utilizing 73 pumping stations for preemptive pumping ahead of potential landfalls. Additionally, Malacañang suspended government work and classes at all levels in Metro Manila and 21 other provinces on Thursday due to continuous heavy rains.