The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday shifted its focus from search and rescue (SAR) to massive relief and clean-up operations, noting the continuing rise in the number of affected people and the huge amount of garbage and debris left behind by the floods.
NDRRMC executive director Undersecretary Benito Ramos said that as of 6 a.m. Yesterday, 60 people have been confirmed dead and seven others remained missing as wide-spread flooding that hit Luzon regions, including Metro Manila, since Wednesday started subsiding.
“We have shifted focus from SAR to intensified relief and clean up operations,” said Ramos.
He revealed that the government has released a total of P45,062,868.96 worth of relief assistance to flood victims.
“The NCR (National Capital Region) received the biggest allocation based on the extent of damages,” said Ramos.
Mountains of garbage filled Metro Manila streets yesterday as flooding subsided and garbage trucks started to collect trash and debris, including fallen trees and flooded appliances and furniture.
According to Ramos, the NDRRMC now has the access to affected people numbering 2,442,135 or 539,838 families from Regions I, III, IV-A, IV-B, VI and the NCR as flooding subsided.
Of the number, a total of 77,850 families composed of 362,307 individuals are still housed inside 729 evacuation centers.
The NDRRMC, along with its allied government and private agencies, had been pre-occupied by SAR operations in flooded areas, especially in Metro Manila, in the past few days as massive floods trapped thousands of people in or atop their residences.
But government and private rescue teams struggled to reach flood victims despite lack of proper equipment.
“There are no more obstacles (in our relief operations),” said Ramos.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture pegged the damage to crops, livestock and fisheries at P167.90 million.