#CrisingPH

Three individuals have been reported missing and over 215,000 people across the country have been affected by the combined onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Crising and the Southwest Monsoon (“habagat”) in recent days. This was announced by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Saturday, even as Crising officially exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this morning.

OCD Administrator Rafaelito Alejandro IV confirmed that two individuals are missing in Antique due to severe flooding. “Inanod. According to the reports, papuntang dagat kaya missing pa ang dalawa,” Alejandro stated, indicating they were reportedly swept away towards the sea while sleeping when floods hit their homes in Sebaste municipality. A third person is reported missing in Palawan, a fisherman who ventured out to sea despite the inclement weather. Validation of these reports is ongoing.

The latest figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) indicate that a total of 23,918 people, or 7,501 families, across 56 barangays in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Soccsksargen were initially affected. However, a broader NDRRMC report later on Saturday stated that 37,598 families, comprising 96,791 individuals, were affected across 10 regions: Ilocos (Region 1), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Soccsksargen (Region 12), Caraga (Region 13), and Negros Island Region (NIR).

Of those affected, 11,689 individuals are currently staying in 155 evacuation centers, while over 6,000 others are temporarily staying with relatives or friends, receiving assistance from the NDRRMC.

The severe weather has led to widespread disruptions and damage. Twenty-six areas experienced flooding across Regions 1, 4B, 6, 7, 9, 12, and 13. Three rain-induced landslides were reported in Central Visayas (Talisay and Cebu City). Infrastructure damage includes 23 impassable road sections and two bridges in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao. One house was completely destroyed in Barangay Sibalom, Antique, where a power interruption also occurred. Another landslide damaged four houses in Barangay Bacalan, Sebaste, Antique, and a falling tree caused a power outage in Bauang, La Union.

Sea travel was significantly impacted, with 19 seaports becoming non-operational in Mimaropa, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao, stranding 1,280 passengers in 42 ports nationwide. Classes were suspended in 279 areas and work schedules in 58 areas due to the persistent threat. The NDRRMC has also recorded an estimated P11.5 million in damage to flood control structures in the Ilocos Region.

Rescue and relief operations underway

The Office of Civil Defense has been on red alert, with Administrator Alejandro stating that approximately 3 million family food packs are ready to be dispatched to local governments for relief augmentation. Continuous monitoring operations are being conducted with various regions, involving the entire NDRRMC.

Around 18,000 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are on standby for rescue operations. The PCG has already rescued 6,761 individuals nationwide since Thursday. Notable rescue efforts include the evacuation of 151 residents in Ilog, Negros Occidental, by the Coast Guard District Southern Visayas (CGDSV) due to flooding. The Coast Guard Sub-Station Peñablanca Deployable Response Group (DRG) evacuated residents near the Pinacanauan River in Peñablanca, Cagayan, to Patagueleg Elementary School. In Palawan, 88 families (253 individuals) from Barangay Sicsican, Puerto Princesa City, were rescued by the Coast Guard District Palawan (CGDPAL) as their houses were submerged.

The Philippine Army has also deployed its humanitarian assistance and disaster response teams across Northern Luzon, prepared to conduct life-saving rescue and relief operations, facilitate evacuations, and carry out clearing efforts. The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) activated its Disaster Response Task Group (DRTG), designating an evacuation zone within Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City as a temporary shelter.

‘Crising’ exits PAR, rains to continue

The state weather bureau PAGASA announced in its 11 a.m. bulletin that Severe Tropical Storm Crising officially left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of 10:00 AM today, Saturday, July 19. Despite its exit, several areas remain under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2, and rain is still expected in parts of Luzon and the Visayas. PAGASA warns that flooding and landslides are likely in Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, and Antique, where around 100-200mm of rainfall is anticipated.