3 dead, 1 missing from monsoon

The relentless monsoon rains in the first weeks of August killed three persons, with one reported missing in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as P46 million worth of agriculture products were damaged in the region, data from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) showed.

In its latest situation report, the OCD said vegetables, fruits, rice and corn crops sustained the heaviest damage in the CAR even as Lacub in Abra was placed under a state of calamity on 16 August.

On Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the southwest monsoon would bring rains over large swaths of Luzon up to today (Monday).

Floods affected over 15,000 people from 3,477 families, mostly in Abra province (3,233), Benguet (178) and Mountain Province (66).

At the same time, PAGASA warned of possible flood and landslides in Ilocos and CAR, Batanes and Babuyan islands and Zambales and Bataan provinces, due to occasional heavy rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience localized thunderstorms, it added.

The OCD said the town of Paracelis in Mountain Province recorded the heaviest damage in corn crops, amounting to P9.6 million. Damage was highest in the towns of La Paz and Villaviciosa, Abra, pegged at P8.7 million.

It added at least 133 houses were partially damaged and 13 others completely destroyed throughout the region during the three -week period. The soaked-up soil in the mountainous region led to eight incidents of eroded riprap and collapsed wall and 49 incidents of landslide and soil erosions.

Floods affected over 15,000 people from 3,477 families, mostly in Abra province (3,233), Benguet (178) and Mountain Province (66). Three persons were reportedly injured, three dead and one still missing in Mankayan, Benguet as of Friday. More landslides and road cuts continue to take place in the region as the rains remain unabated.