106 areas under calamity state

Cagayan, Pampanga, Bulacan join group; ‘Egay’ deaths rise to 25

By Vince Lopez, Vito Barcelo, Othel V. Campos, Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

ATOTAL of 106 places across the country are now under a state of calamity, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Monday, as Cagayan, Pampanga and Bulacan joined the list of provinces declaring a calamity state to tap their emergency funds after the onslaught of typhoon “Egay” last week and the incessant rains due to the southwest monsoon or “habagat”

The three provinces joined Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Mountain Province, Bataan and Cavite in declaring a state of calamity along with various cities and municipalities, mostly in Luzon, the NDRRMC said in a briefing.

Egay unleashed strong winds and rains when it made landfall in Cagayan last week and pummeled other areas in Luzon, killing 25 at last count.

The state weather bureau said more rains are expected in parts of Luzon and the Visayas in the next few days due to the southwest monsoon, enhanced by another storm, “Falcon.”

In its latest report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the death toll from Egay had reached 25, while 52 others were injured and 23 remained missing, including four Philippine Coast Guard personnel whose boat capsized in Abulug, Cagayan last week.

Some 2.3 million people or 654,837 families were affected by the storm across 13 regions in the Philippines, the NDRRMC said.

The total damage left by Egay was adjusted to P5.4 billion, with damage to infrastructure worth P3.5 billion and agricultural damage pegged at P1.9 billion. The government has so far given out assistance worth P146.6 million, most them or use bancas to move to drier ground (inset right). In Ilocos Norte, US Marines help their Philippine counterparts in loading generators for use at clear the Laoag International Airport and nearby communities (inset left) in Ilocos Sur, local police and disaster rescuers carry the body of John Paul Sabluden, 19, who was reported missing since July 26 at the start of the rains triggered by Typhoon ‘Egay.’ Maria Tan/ABS-CBN grab, PMC, MDRRMC photos

PBBM worried price of rice may rise with low PH stocks

By Othel V. Campos

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is meeting officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) today as he is worried that the recent storms and the worst of the El Nino season will leave the country without sufficient stocks of rice and send its price spiraling out of control.

In a recent press conference while giving out aid to the storm-stricken provinces in Northern Luzon, the President said he was nervous that the market price of rice would skyrocket despite the government’s plan to import more of the staple

Leptospirosis, dengue cases up amid rainy season—DOH

THE country has logged an increase in the number of leptospirosis and dengue cases amid the onset of the rainy season, the Department of Health said Monday.

The DOH said 182 new leptospirosis cases were recorded from June 18 to July 1, a 42-percent jump from the 128 cases reported two weeks prior.

Central Luzon, in particular, showed a continuous increase in leptospirosis cases in the past 6 weeks, the department said.

As of July 15, some 2,079 reported cases of leptospirosis were recorded nationwide since the start of the year, with 225 fatalities.

Moto riders face P1,000 fine for stopping under bridges

By Joel Zurbano

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Author- ity said it will start penalizing today (Aug. 1) motorcycle riders using foot bridges and flyovers as shelters during heavy downpours.

The agency said it will issue citation tickets and a fine of P1,000 will be slapped against the riders for road obstruction.

MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes said motorcycle riders seeking shelter under flyovers are dangerous not only to themselves but to other motorists as well.