MANILA (Agencies): The Philippine National Police (PNP) has mobilised frontline forces for rescue and evacuation operations amid widespread flooding, with additional personnel and assets on standby for rapid deployment to the hardest-hit areas, according to local media reports.
"We have made available as many personnel and resources as possible for evacuation and disaster response," PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said on Sunday. He advised the public to monitor official channels and refrain from sharing unverified information.
Flooding and gridlock from the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones have crippled major thoroughfares across Luzon, forcing emergency evacuations. In Central Luzon, police have been assisting affected communities through search and rescue, evacuation and relief distribution.
Official data showed 618 families, or 2,039 residents, were sheltering in 46 evacuation centers. Severe flooding hit at least 132 villages across six provinces, with roads and a bridge in Bulacan and Pampanga still impassable, according to the reports.
For the record, at least 382,000 people or 110,000 families in eight regions have been affected by the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) and tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported, citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday.
The NDRRMC said the affected families are from Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon, Bicol, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera Administrative Region, Mimaropa and Calabarzon.
The death toll remained at six, while seven injured persons were recorded -- all still subject to validation.
The fatalities were two in La Trinidad, Benguet due to a landslide; two in Rodriguez, Rizal due to a rockslide; and two in Luna, La Union (drowning and electrocution).
The seven injured were reported in Benguet, including five in Baguio City, one in La Trinidad due to landslides, and one in Kapangan from a vehicular accident.
The NDRRMC said 86 evacuation centres have been activated, sheltering 2,200 families or 7,300 persons. Another 1,132 families or 3,700 persons are staying outside evacuation centres.
The weather disturbances also damaged 148 houses, of which 138 were partially damaged and 10 totally damaged. Infrastructure damage has reached PHP105.5 million, while agricultural losses were placed at PHP3.53 million.
Government agencies, local government units and other partners have provided PHP13.21 million worth of assistance to affected families.
-- Xinhua - Bernama/PNA
