By Priam Nepomuceno

HELPING HAND. Troops from the Philippine Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion carry out rescue operations in Cateel, Davao Oriental on Jan. 31, 2024. The NDRRMC on Monday (Feb. 5) said bad weather caused by the northeast monsoon and the trough of a low pressure area has so far affected over 214,000 families in various parts of Mindanao. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion)

MANILA – A total of 214,132 families have so far been affected by the effects of the northeast monsoon (amihan) and the trough of a low pressure area that has caused massive floods in large parts of Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Monday.

The figure is equivalent to 812,638 persons in 564 villages in Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, according to the NDRRMC’s latest situation report.

In the same update, 22,573 families or 85,285 individuals are being helped in 331 active evacuation centers while another 92,898 families or 312,873 persons are being aided outside.

The Office of Civil Defense earlier said affected families include those displaced and those not needing transfer or removal from their residence.

The NDRRMC said it is validating reports of 16 deaths, 11 injured, and three missing, all of which are reported in Davao Region.

A total of 101 houses were reported damaged in Davao Region and Caraga.

On Sunday, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. lauded the personnel of the Mawab, Davao de Oro-headquartered 10th Infantry Division for their humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in southeastern Mindanao affected by the floods.

He added that these efforts highlight the dedication of the Filipino soldiers in helping their countrymen affected by calamities. (PNA)