32,OOO families affected by Typhoon ‘Ompong’

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - At least 32,000 fami lies from the seven provinces in Central Luzon were affected as typhoon “Ompong” hit the region with strong winds and intense rains over the weekend.

Based on the latest report released by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office Region III (DSWD-3) reported a total of 32,135 families or 135,498 individuals are experienced the severe effects of typhoon Ompong.

About 16,966 families were transferred as part of the pre-emptive and continuing evacuation act i vi t i es.

Some 8,914 families stayed on governmentidentified evacuation centers while 8,052 moved in other safe pl aces.

In Pampanga province, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has recorded a total of 4,991 families accounting for 23,033 individuals affected by severe weather condition.

The evacuees are from Mabalacat City (89 families), Magalang (99 families), Lubao (63 families), Sasmuan (27 families), Sta. Rita (2 families), Arayat (19 families), City of San Fernando (4 families), Mexico (11 families), Apalit (127 families), Macabebe (146 families), Masantol (2,695 families), Minalin (1,708 families), and San Simon (1 family).

Some 847 of the said affected families consisting of 3,415 individuals were transferred in 54 government-identified evacuation center as typhoon Ompong left the Philippine area of responsibility Saturday night.

The DSWD-3 have prepared a total 12,852 family food packs in its warehouses in Aurora, Olongapo City, Bulacan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.

Additional 1,000 food packs in Marilao, Bulacan are ready for distribution, the agency st at ed.

The Department of Health (DOH)-Central Luzon has distributed some 17,000 health kits containing 65,090 doxycycline capsules in various places in the region as part preparation.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) deployed at least 670 Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel in its Police Provincial Offices in Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija.

A total of 3,014 SAR personnel are on standby mode as of Saturday evening.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) activated its Regional Task Force Bayanihan. Civic action groups had set-up VHF radio communications at the Emergency Operations Center in Clark Freeport.

The RDRRMC, led by Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Marlou Salazar, directed the provincial and local DRRMCs to continue monitoring the situation in their area.

Southwest monsoon enhanced by typhoon Ompong will continue to bring heavy rains in the region, she said.

— Chris Navarro QUICK RESPONSE STATIONS. DPWHSecretary Mark Villar and DPWH-3 Regional Director Roseller Tolentino inspects the pre-positioning of Heavy Equipment to be used in emergency situation as typhoon “Ompong” battered the country over the weekend. Joining them are DPWH-3 Assistant Regional Director Loreta Malaluan ; DPWH- Pampanga District Engineers Almer Miranda (1st DEO); Gregorio Audea ( 2nd DEO) and Tito Salvador ( 3rd DEO); Assitant District Engineers Lawrence Cruz ( 2nd DEO) and Arnold Ocampo (3rd DEO).