Children eat porridge distributed by the local government at Tumana village in Marikina City.
By James Konstantin Galvez & William B Depasupil/Manila Times
Tropical storm Mario (international codename: Fung-Wong) left a trail of death and destruction as the death toll rose to 12.
The fatalities were identified as Althea Gaviola, Jay-ar Taganas, Hermengildo Duma, Eduard Lelis, Conrado Bergonio, Ernesto Guevarra and John Pabello Faller, who all drowned.
Two other victims — Erlinda Centrino and Siegfried Nagha Arcilla —died from head injury and electrocution.
The other reported fatalities were Tomas Prino Barol, Javier Jevania Mateo and Benedicto Glendon Sol. The Department of Agriculture (DA) reported that the agricultural sector also suffered a major blow as damage incurred from typhoon Luis and storm Mario reached P1.14bn, affecting 122, 127 hectares of farmland in five regions. It said strong winds and heavy rains brought about by the typhoon and the storm affected the agriculture and fisheries sectors in 23 provinces.
Losses to the rice sector amounted to P934.09mn, or 53,800 metric tonnes of palay (unhusked rice). The DA, however, noted that of the total area affected by the storm, most or 96,046 hectares still have a chance of recovery.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), meanwhile, said 183,188 families or 840,368 people were affected in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5, 7, Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) and National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila).
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said P91.34mn worth of damage to roads was reported in Regions1 and 3, NCR and CAR.
The NDRRMC said 75 roads and three bridges are not yet passable in 10 affected regions, including Metro Manila, while 222 areas in Regions 1,3, 4-A, 4-B and NCR are still flooded.
Power outages were reported in the provinces of Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya while Regions 1, 2, 4-A, 4-B and CAR are still experiencing power service interruptions.
