The devastation caused by tropical storm “Ondoy” (international code name Ketsana) was massive, leaving 86 people dead, 29 missing, four injured, and 47,261 persons displaced.

The extensive damage prompted Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., who is also chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), to declare a state of calamity in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), and regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A, 4-B, and 5.

Data released by the NDCC showed of those confirmed dead, 23 were in Tanay, 10 in Angono 17 in Antipolo City, five in Baras, three in Montalban, and one in Theresa– all in Rizal; one in Calaca, Batangas; one in Calauag, Quezon; three in Muntinlupa City; two in Quezon City; one in Marikina City; one in San Juan; one in Kabugao, Apayao; and 12 in Arayat, Pampanga.

Two soldiers and three members of the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) who died while conducting rescue operations were also added to the list of fatalities. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman, Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Jr. identified the victims as Pfc Venancio Ancheta Jr. of the 16th Infantry Battalion, Cpl. Adriano Regua of the 59th Infantry Battalion, and CAAs Erineo Olaguer, Joel Hernalin, and Florencio Dequito. Two other CAFGU members remain missing.

Brawner said Ancheta was able to save 20 flood victims before he himself was swept away by rampaging waters at around 9 a.m. in Barangay Tunhac, Famy, Laguna.

On the other hand, the bodies of Regua, Hernalin, Olaguer, and Florencio were recovered at the Manila East Service Road at Sitio Johnson, Barangay Naguman, Mabitac, Laguna. They were also swept away by floodwaters while conducting rescue operations.

The NDCC placed the partial total of affected population in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and Camarines Sur at 59,241 families or 294,555 persons, while a partial number of evacuees was placed at 9,601 families or 47,261 persons in 102 evacuation centers.

Placed under state of calamity were the NCR, Mt. Province, Ifugao, and Benguet in CAR; Pangasinan, La Union, and Ilocos Sur in Reion 1; Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya in Region 2; Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pampanga, and Bulacan in Region 3; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon in Region 4-A; Occidental Mindoro in Region 4-B; and Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur in Region 5. International donations have also started to pour in for the flood victims. UNICEF, it was learned, immediately provided assorted food and non-food items worth more than P5 million.

Teodoro, on the other hand, said rescue operations should be done and mobilized in a quickest possible time. “We tried to response a quickest we could in the rescue operations”, Teodoro said after the NDCC meeting yesterday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque ordered all hospitals in the affected regions including NCR to be place in Code Blue Alert. In this directive, all hospitals there must have a 24-hour service from its medical staff.

Meanwhile, no suspension of work in government offices according to Teodoro but they understand the matter if some of the government employees can’t make it to their respective working place especially in the areas affected.

Lapus added and advised the school and local officials in the National Capital Region and in the Province of Rizal to use their discretion authorities over the suspension of classes in the next couple of days especially areas still affected by floods.