GOVERNMENT and non-government organizations have so far provided P996.6 million worth of assistance to the victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) and Super Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-rey), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday.
In its 8 a.m. situation update, the disaster response agency said the assistance has reached 588,784 families in 15 stricken regions.
"The number of families requiring assistance and the number of families in some regions are still to be determined," the NDRRMC said.
So far, 2,028,282 families, or 7,953,766 persons, in 11,414 barangay (villages) in 17 regions have been affected by Kristine and Leon.
Close to 82,000 families are staying at 1,980 evacuation centers.
The death toll has climbed to 145, of which 14 have been confirmed.
The number of injured stood at 84, and 21 are still missing.
Damage to agriculture was estimated at P4.43 billion and P6.82 billion to infrastructure. The NDRRMC said 155,121 houses were damaged.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said the OCD was distributing non-food items such as hygiene kits to storm victims.
Nepomuceno also said the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) will distribute building materials to help victims repair their homes.
Storm victims whose houses were destroyed will receive P30,000, and those whose houses were damaged will get P10,000.
Nepomuceno added that restoring power and internet connection in storm-hit areas is also a top priority.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it had distributed family food packs to all six provinces of the Bicol region.
DSWD's National Resource and Logistic Management Bureau (NRLMB) Chief Administrative Officer Irish Flor Yaranon said Camarines Sur received 94,318 packs; Albay, 66,710; Camarines Norte, 30,253; Sorsogon, 26,008; Catanduanes, 7,895; and Masbate, 531.
In Cagayan Valley, Super Typhoon Leon left a trail of destruction across the province of Batanes, which bore the brunt of the storm before it exited the Philippine area of responsibility, the OCD reported Friday.
OCD Region 2 Director Leon DG Rafael said the rest of Cagayan Valley remained relatively unscathed and was experiencing fair weather.
Rafael said preliminary reports indicate heavy damage to homes and agricultural crops, and landslides obstructed major roads.
With the weather improving, Cagayan Valley's residents visited cemeteries in droves during All Saints' Day, he said.
As their contribution to the relief effort, soldiers from the Philippine Army 2nd Infantry Division based in Tanay, Rizal, on Thursday donated their meal allowance to Kristine victims.
By donating the P150 allowance, "the soldiers of the 2ID are showing their support for the victims of Typhoon Kristine," said Brig. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro Jr., the division commander.
The donation, which totaled P669,450, was handed over to GMA Kapuso Foundation.
Last month, the 2ID also raised P794,208 for the victims of Typhoon Carina.
Neighboring countries were sending planes to help in humanitarian and relief operations in Bicol.
Two helicopters from the Indonesian armed forces arrived Thursday to join in the airlifting of relief goods.
Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei also dispatched cargo planes to Bicol.
Items like shelter repair kits, foodstuffs, potable water and hygiene kits were being brought in for delivery to communities in the flooded towns of Bato, Bula, Naga, Iriga, Nabua, in Camarines Sur, and other municipalities in Albay.
Among the officials who witnessed the arrival of the Indonesian aircraft were Indonesian Ambassador to Manila Agus Widjojo and the Philippine Air Force Chief of Air Staff Major Gen. Aristotle Gonzalez.
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