THE government has allocated over P1.2 billion worth of relief and financial aid as its response in areas affected by tropical storm Auring (international name: Dujuan), according to Malacañang.
In a statement on Sunday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the assistance for typhoon victims from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now ready for deployment.
This is on top of the P19.5 million worth of medicine, medical supplies and health kits prepared by the Department of Health (DOH), also for storm-hit areas.
Roque issued the statement as tropical storm Auring started battering parts of Visayas and Mindanao during the weekend.
“We ask the public, especially residents of affected areas, to remain vigilant, be prepared and ready for possible evacuation in case their local authorities advise them to do so as a precautionary measure,” Roque said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that at least 1,241 families in Caraga have been preemptively evacuated because of the storm.
The Philippine Coast Guard, Roque said, already deployed its personnel in flood-prone areas to help the rescue initiatives of concerned local government units.
Rescue
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Sunday that rescue and relief operations are being carried out for residents in Mindanao affected by flooding spawned by Auring.
“Response operations are ongoing in communities affected by flooding in Surigao del Sur and several areas of Surigao del Norte,” the NDRRMC said in a brief statement, as it monitors the effect of Auring in Mindanao.
Initially, at least 1,410 families in 40 barangays in Region 11 and Caraga were affected while three key roads and a bridge are impassable due to flooding, the NDRRMC said.
At least 44 houses were also partially damaged in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte.
On Saturday, officials preemptively evacuated at least 1,241 families or 4,847 individuals in Caraga while other families living in low-lying villages and other areas that are prone to flooding and landslides are being moved out.
Power supply in Surigao del Sur was cut on Sunday by the Surigao del Sur II Electric Cooperative as a precautionary move against the flooding, leaving almost all of the province 19 towns and municipalities without power.
The flooding was exacerbated by swelling rivers.
The Philippine Coast Guard said that at least 771 individuals, two vessels and 280 rolling cargo were stranded in four seaports in North Eastern Mindanao while 18 vessels and five motor bancas have taken shelter against Auring’s fury.
In Eastern Visayas, at least 2, 555, six vessels and 847 rolling cargo were stranded in five seaports ports while another 443 passengers, 33 vessels and 298 cargoes were also stranded in 20 seaports in Central Visayas.
“The PCG has monitored a total of 4,246 passengers, drivers and cargo helpers; 75 vessels; one motor banca and 1, 804 rolling cargoes stranded in Northern Mindanao, North Eastern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Bicol region amid Typhoon Auring,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.