4 Dead As Landslides Hit Benguet, Rizal; Maymay Weakens Into LPA

Continuous rainfall over the past days due to tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the southwest monsoon or habagat has left at least four people dead, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The NDRRMC said two of the fatalities are landslide victims in Barangay Shilan, La Trinidad, Benguet where one injury was also reported. The victims were working as cooks in an eatery when the landslide struck at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Two other deaths due to a rockslide incident in Rodriguez, Rizal on Wednesday, Aug, 5, have also been reported, with search and rescue operations carried out for both incidents.

The NDRRMC said the number of people affected by tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay along with habagat has now ballooned to 80,633 or 23,946 families nationwide.

Of the affected individuals, some 6,929 individuals or 2,215 families have been displaced and are temporarily staying in 39 different evacuation centers.

The NDRRMC said there are 83 flooded areas across Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Also among the most affected provinces are in Cagayan Valley, Bicol and Cordillera Administrative Region.

The NDRRMC said the estimated cost of food and non-food assistance provided to most affected communities stand at more than P1.38 million.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said six people reportedly died from the effects of Tropical Storm Maymay, which weakened into a tropical depression on Thursday.

As of 2 a.m. today, Aug. 7, Maymay further weakened into a low pressure area.

PNP spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co said aside from two rockslide victims in Rodriguez, Rizal and another two in La Trinidad, Benguet, two men drowned in Luna, La Union and Alaminos City, Pangasinan. He clarified that the fatalities are still subject for validation.

A typhoon with international name Dolphin is still outside the Philippine area of responsibility as Maymay downgraded further, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

While still not expected to enter PAR, Dolphin will enhance habagat and bring rains in parts of Luzon and Visayas.

PAGASA warned that Maymay will also still bring heavy rains and strong winds.

The government is ready to respond to the impact of Maymay, Malacañang said on Thursday, as agencies carry out measures to ensure the safety of residents in affected areas.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said the NDRRMC has been placed on full alert in compliance with President Marcos’ directive to brace for the effects of the weather disturbance.

“The President and the government are prepared for any disaster,” she said.

Castro said that member agencies of the NDRRMC have implemented proactive measures to ensure immediate response. Residents near flood-prone and landslide-prone areas, including coastal communities, have also been preemptively evacuated, she added.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the government has allocated nearly P1.8 billion in assistance for people affected by severe weather.

Castro added the government has prepared over five million family food packs for affected areas and has more than P1.6 billion in standby funds for the response efforts.

For the second day, work in courts in most of Luzon was deferred as rainy weather persisted.

The Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals in Manila and Baguio City, the Sandiganbayan and Court of Tax Appeals suspended court operations last Aug. 6, according to the SC’s advisory.

Work in all trial courts in Metro Manila and Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa was also postponed due to bad weather.

The SC said that work was suspended in courts after Malacañang issued Memorandum Circular No. 122, cancelling classes and work in government offices in most areas in Luzon, including Metro Manila. Despite the work suspension, the courts implemented skeleton workforce in select units and divisions.

Six domestic flights were canceled while four were put on hold at the tarmac of Ninoy Aquino International Airport due to unfavorable weather conditions in the destination, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said on Thursday. – With Kate Judson, Emmanuel Tupas, Artemio Dumlao, Rudy Santos, Jun Elias, Ghio Ong, Josiah Antonio