The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) made urgent calls to action for disaster response as the shear line and intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) weather systems continue to wreak havoc across the Philippines, bringing relentless rains, flooding, and widespread damage.
Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno directed all OCD regional directors to strengthen preparedness measures to mitigate further loss of life and property.
In a memorandum issued Friday, January 3, 2025, he emphasized the need for swift and proactive action as disaster reports showed alarming impacts of the shear line and ITCZ across multiple regions. Based on latest OCD updates, both weather disturbances already caused the following:
· 5 fatalities, 20 injuries, and two missing persons in Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas and the Davao Region;
· 1,092 damaged houses in Eastern Visayas and Davao Region, including 394 totally destroyed homes;
· P215.7 million worth of infrastructure damage in the Davao Region with 39 roads and six bridges rendered impassable across Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Davao Region; and
· Power outages in one Davao Region municipality.
The flooding has so far displaced 436,164 families with approximately 139,255 individuals affected. As of this posting, 2,366 families (549 people) are in 29 evacuation centers, while 1,661 families (2,247 people) are taking refuge outside designated shelters.
“With the ongoing reports of flooding and the resulting fatalities, injuries, and destruction of property across various regions, it is essential that we take decisive action to prevent further loss of life and damage,” Nepomuceno said.
He warned that the current weather systems are as destructive as the typhoons experienced in January 2023, which claimed 43 lives due to flooding and landslides in Visayas and Mindanao. Accordingly, the OCD advised all affected areas to implement the following measures:
· Refresh disaster response protocols, focusing on worst-case scenarios;
· Conduct inventory food and non-food items (FNFI) and emergency supplies to address potential shortages;
· Maintain communication lines open for seamless coordination among agencies;
· Execute preemptive evacuations for communities in flood- and landslide-prone areas; and
· Report incidents that could hinder response efforts for immediate action.
“Our commitment to saving lives and protecting property is unwavering. We must act swiftly and decisively to ensure that we are prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead,” Nepomuceno said.
The OCD urged local government units and residents to remain vigilant and proactive. Doing so would help minimize risks and strengthen community resilience amid ongoing severe weather challenges, the agency said.
