TWO to three tropical cyclones may enter the Philippines in August, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Meanwhile, a United States grant of $1 million (roughly P55 million) will be used to address the devastation caused by the typhoon and support communities in Bulacan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Lanao Del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, the National Capital Region, and Pampanga.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NRRDMC) reported that a total of P1.08 billion worth of damage to agriculture were inflicted by the combined onslaught of typhoons Butchoy and Carina, and the southwest monsoon or habagat.
“In the month of August, we expect two or three typhoons to form or enter the PAR (Philippine area of responsibility),” weather forecaster Robert Badrina said.
The agency’s Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section, in a tropical cyclone information, said “more tropical cyclones are entering the PAR than anywhere else in the world.”
With an average of 20 tropical cyclones in the region per year, about eight or nine of them would cross the Philippines, it added.
“The peak of the typhoon season is July through October, when nearly 70 percent of all typhoons develop,” PAGASA said.
In partnership with Catholic Relief Services and Action Against Hunger, this assistance will offer families access to food aid, hygiene kits, emergency shelter kits, clean water, and one-time cash transfers, “helping them to recover from the disaster safely and with dignity,” the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said.
“The United States is providing $1 million to ensure life-saving assistance reaches families across the archipelago that have been devastated by severe flooding and landslides,” USAID acting mission director Betty Chung said.
“We are committed to working with the Philippine government and people as they rebuild and recover from this disaster,” she added.
The NDRRMC said Region 3 lost some P812 million, equivalent to more than 19,000 farmers and fishermen affected, the highest among the regions followed by Mimaropa amounting to 108 million pesos equivalent to 4,795 affected farmers.
The reported number of fatalities remained at 39. In its latest bulletin, the NDRRMC said of the 39, it has confirmed the death of 14 people and was still validating reports on the death of the 25 others.
It likewise reported that nine people were injured, while six still missing.
Damage sustained by the infrastructure due to the recent weather disturbance has climbed to over P4 billion equivalent to 3,243 infrastructures.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline PAGASA: 2 to 3 tropical cyclones may enter PAR this August
