The number of casualties from Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name Ketsana) has already reached 324. At least 277 were reported dead, 5 injured and 42 missing. In the National Capital Region alone, 123 people were killed, and in Region IV-A, 104.

Over 100,000 of the 512,092 families affected by Ondoy are appealing for assistance from the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center. But because of very limited resources, CDRC can only cater to a limited number of families. CDRC is now enjoining everyone to pitch in and extend whatever resources they could.

Ondoy battered Metro Manila and parts of Luzon after it made landfall near the boundary of Aurora and Quezon Saturday morning, September 26. Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna and Rizal were the most affected by the massive floods. Over 2.5 million have already been affected, the National Disaster Coordinating Council reported.

In Metro Manila alone, over 100,000 people from over 900 barangays were evacuated after incessant rains caused heavy flooding in Manila, Marikina, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Valenzuela, San Juan and Quezon City. Flood water in some areas have already reached the second and third floors of buildings, forcing residents to seek refuge on the roof of their houses. Other areas such as Pasig and Cainta remain flooded up to this day.

In Bulacan, 113 baranggays in Marilao, Meycuayan, San Miguel and Bocaue Sta Maria, Calumpit, Bustos and Norzagaray were heavily flooded. In Pampanga, 64 barangays in San Simon, Guagua, Masantol, Apalit, Lubao, Porac, Sto Tomas and San Fernando.

In Rizal, several barangays were flooded and 5,000 families were affected by rising floodwater. Many villages were not accessible to the rescue teams, leaving several families trapped on rooftops for hours.

Landslides occurred in Mt Province-Cagayan via Tabuk in CAR; Brgy. San Juan-Banyo, Arayat, Pampanga in Region III; Brgy. Bongalon, Sangay, Camarines Sur in Region V; Tagaytay-Taal Road, and Tagaytay-Talisay Road in Cavite; and Antipolo-Teresa Road and Sumulong Highway in Rizal.

The total cost of damage has already reached P4.8 B. The damage to infrastructure has reached P1.5 B; and to agriculture P3.2 B.

The Secretary of National Defense declared a State of National Calamity in the following areas in view of the extensive effects of Tropical Storm “Ondoy†:

The whole of National Capital Region (NCR)

CAR: Mt. Province, Ifugao and Benguet

Region I: Pangasinan, La Union and Ilocos Sur

Region II: Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya

Region III: Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac and Bataan

Region IV-A: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon

Region IV-B: Mindoro (Occidental and Oriental) and Marinduque

Region V: Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur

Appeal for assistance

Right after the typhoon, CDRC and its Regional Centers immediately conducted a Damages, Needs and Capacities Assessment (DNCA) in the affected areas.

Of the total number of affected families, the most vulnerable were carefully identified, taking into account the gravity of destruction, their economic capacity to cope, their accessibility to relief services conducted by other agencies, and their willingness to help themselves. On the basis of these criteria, 100,000 families have been identified as the most vulnerable families from among the total affected. They were among the worst affected by the typhoon and floods. Their houses were destroyed, and many of these areas are still difficult to access and therefore receive very little assistance if any. Immediate needs are food supply augmentation and other essential non-food items.

Needs include:

food provisions

water supply

medicines (for common colds and diarrhea)

clothes

bedding (mats, blankets, mosquito nets)

plastic sheet

kitchen utensils

sanitary napkins

construction materials (plywood, corrugated metal roof, etc)

Donations for the evacuees may be sent through the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center at 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City. Concerned individuals and donors can easily reach us at (632) 929-9822 / (632) 929-9820. Donations may also be sent through the following bank accounts:

Dollar Account

Account Name: Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number: 2-63600158-3

Bank: Metrobank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

Swift Code: MBTCPHMM

Peso Account

Account Name: Citizens’ Disaster Response Center

Account Number: 3-63600741-3

Bank: Metrobank, Examiner Branch

Bank Address: Corner Examiner and Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, Philippines

References:

NDCC

PAGASA

Reports from:

Community Response for Enlightenment, Service and Transformation (CREST)

Alay Bayan Incorporated (ABI)

Southern Tagalog People’s Response Center (STPRC)