By: Catherine Cueto

THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday said that close to a million people were affected by the Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng.”

According to the latest situation report, a total of 932,077 people or 277,383 families coming from 2,445 villages in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, Bangsamoro, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The number of reported deaths is now at 48, with 37 of them confirmed. Some 22 individuals are missing and 40 are injured.

The NDRRMC said that 40 of those reported deaths come from the Bangsamoro region, three from Soccsksargen, and two each from Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas, and one in Bicol region.

The report also said that there are 168,453 displaced people or 44,847 families who are temporarily residing in 2,125 evacuation centers.

The other 196,293 displaced people or 88,348 families are staying with their friends or relatives.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture reported an estimated damage of P54,965,924.13 in Western Visayas and Soccsksargen.

A total of 714 houses were damaged—555 partially and 159 totally damaged. 

The NDRRMC on Saturday issued a recommendation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., that the entire country be placed under a state of calamity due to effects left behind by Paeng.