Five million people affected by tropical cyclones in the Philippines

The number of confirmed deaths from tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay, along with the southwest monsoon or habagat, in the Philippines has reached 23, while those affected have risen to approximately 5.08 million people across ten regions, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Monday.

In a statement to the media, OCD spokesperson Diego Mariano said the affected residents are equivalent to 1.45 million families in several areas. They are spread across Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Calabarzon, the Cordillera Administrative Region, the national capital region, and Mimaropa.

According to Mariano, 523 evacuation centres have accommodated 7,182 families or around 24,893 people, with total assistance distributed so far amounting to 734.1 million Philippine pesos (approximately Rp212.72 billion).

The reported death toll from the disaster stands at 23, comprising 15 people in Benguet, three each in Rizal and Batangas, and one each in La Union and Quezon.

In addition, 17 people have been recorded as injured, and one person remains missing.

The agency recorded 182 heavily damaged houses and 1,681 partially damaged houses.

The central government and local governments in 12 provinces also adjusted working hours on Monday due to heavy rain caused by the monsoon phenomenon.

Based on Memorandum Circular No. 127 issued by Malacañang upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the adjustment of working hours applies in Metro Manila, Zambales Province, Bataan Province, Bulacan Province, Pampanga Province, Tarlac Province, Nueva Ecija Province, Cavite Province, Batangas Province, Rizal Province, Laguna Province, Quezon Province, and Occidental Mindoro Province.