The project is managed by Singaporean humanitarian NGO Mercy Relief with the support of Singapore’s leading media company MediaCorp, and implemented by the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center together with its network of regional centers.

Forty three of the deaths were from Southern Tagalog, followed by Central Luzon with 15 and Bicol region with 18. Seventy-two people remain missing, mostly from Bicol.

Basyang hit the country last July 13, pounding the main island of Luzon with maximum gusts of 120 kilometres (74 miles) an hour.

At least 48,640 families or 241,651 persons were reported to have been affected by Basyang from 709 baranggays, 5 cities and 47 municipalities in 12 provinces.

The typhoon caught the capital by surprise after the state weather service PAGASA warned that only provinces north of Metro Manila will be hit.

The estimated cost of damage to infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries and schools in Regions 3, 4-A, 4-B, 5 and Metro Manila were placed by the government at PhP 74.91 M.

Appeal for support

As of this writing, 465 families or 2,365 persons remain inside evacuation centers, the NDCC said. These families need food and non-food items such as: rice, canned goods, water, hygiene kits, clothes, bedding and shelter kits.

For your donations, please call 929-9820 / 929-9822 or drop by CDRC’s office at 72-A Times St., West Triangle Homes, Quezon City.

Sources:

Philippine Daily Inquirer, 07/15/2010

The Philippine Star, 07/20/2010

National Disaster Coordinating Council Situation Report No. 18, 07/20/2010

June 20th: 20,000 residents in Sultan Kudarat are forced to evacuate to higher grounds due to heavy rains and flooding on June 20 Sunday, according to National Disaster Coordinating Council.

This is the third of a series of mass evacuations which started May. Evacuees came from the 10 low-lying villages namely: Bulalo, Salimbao, Calsada, Katuli, Gang, Macaquiling, Limbo, Senditan, Banubo and Mulaog.

Losses in infrastructure and properties amounted to P20 Million.

Background:

On the 26th of May, flash floods ravaged through the 10 villages of Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura, in Northern Maguindanao. The heavy rains lasted from Wednesday until Saturday, flooding the low-lying areas. A total of 55,758 individuals/13,792 families have been reported as being affected. On the 28 May, affected families were evacuated to Dawa Center, Simuay for safety. Fortunately, by the morning of the 29th, the floods had subsided enough to allow the evacuees to return to their homes.  A damages and needs assessment was conducted in the affected areas by the MDCC Sultan Kudarat Team. 15 homes and 40 hectares of agricultural crops were completely destroyed.

Information sourced from:

Dromic Update as of July 2: http://disaster.dswd.gov.ph/viewdata.asp?opendata=may&id=1544

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100620-276659/Floods-displace-20000

National Disaster Coordinating Council Incident Report, updated as of July 8th, 2010 @ 8:00pm

Photo taken from The Mindanao Examiner. http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20100601064653

This is the third of a series of mass evacuations which started May. Evacuees came from the 10 low-lying villages namely: Bulalo, Salimbao, Calsada, Katuli, Gang, Macaquiling, Limbo, Senditan, Banubo and Mulaog.

Losses in infrastructure and properties amounted to P20 Million.

Background:

On the 26th of May, flash floods ravaged through the 10 villages of Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura, in Northern Maguindanao. The heavy rains lasted from Wednesday until Saturday, flooding the low-lying areas. A total of 47, 552 individuals/9388 families have been reported as being affected. On the 28 May, affected families were evacuated to Dawa Center, Simuay for safety. Fortunately, by the morning of the 29th, the floods had subsided enough to allow the evacuees to return to their homes.  A damages and needs assessment was conducted in the affected areas by the MDCC Sultan Kudarat Team. 15 homes and 40 hectares of agricultural crops were completely destroyed.

Information sourced from:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100620-276659/Floods-displace-20000

National Disaster Coordinating Council Incident Report, updated as of May 29th, 2010 @ 8:00pm

Photo taken from The Mindanao Examiner. http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20100601064653

As of April 2010, 4,000 dengue cases, 50 percent higher compared to last year, have already been reported, according to Dr. Eric Tayag of the National Epidemiology Center.

In Cavite, the number of dengue cases increased in June.

DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER is an acute infectious disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti, a day-biting mosquito which breeds in stagnant water.

Surroundings should be kept free from stagnant water, Tayag said.

According to DOH health advisory, signs and symptoms of dengue include: sudden onset of high fever which may last 2-7 days, joint and muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, weakness, skin rashes (tiny red spots), nose bleeding, abdominal pain, vomiting of coffee-colored matter and dark colored stools.

If detected early, dengue can be cured easily. Still, prevention and control is better than cure. DOH has the following tips:

• Cover water drums and water pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

• Replace water in flower vases once a week.

• Clean all water containers once a week.

• Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.

• Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.

• Old tires used as roof support should be punctured or cut to avoid accumulation of water.

• Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.

For more information, visit http://www.doh.gov.ph/

Information retrieved from:

Department of Health. http://portal.doh.gov.ph/healthadvisories/dengue. June 17, 2010

GMA News. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/191279/doh-warns-vs-dengue-flu-as-rainy-season-nears. May 19, 2010

Flooding results in unhygienic conditions because of water contamination. Water-borne illness is caused by drinking, eating food prepared with, or from exposure of an open wound or body part (such as the eyes, ears, and nose) to contaminated water. Folded cotton reduces contamination. It is, however, not perfect. One such water borne illness is Leptospirosis, contracted from exposure to the urine or skin tissue of an infected animal. Flulike symptoms occur two to twenty-five days after exposure and include headaches, muscle aches, fever, and eye sensitivity. The second phase is a recurrence of the initial symptoms a few days after the symptoms have improved, with some infected individuals developing serious inflammation of nerves. Leptospirosis of the liver and kidneys is known as Weil’s syndrome, which causes a distinct yellowing of the eyes. Antiobiotic treatment is most effective the early in the course of the illness.

Water purification is one way to limit the consumption of contaminated water. Along with coal treatments and boiling of water, pouring water through folded cotton is a form of purification. Cotton purification is best when used simultaneously with other treatments. Using it without other purification processes should be a last resort because these processes are not perfect. To begin, one should use a well washed piece of cotton since the space between fibers is reduced. Fold the cotton into eight layers and cover the mouth of a container while pouring in pre-treated water or collecting surface water. To disinfect, use soap if available and leave in the sun to dry.

Another major concern with the coming rains is the spread of Malaria. This results from the growing number of mosquitoes that reproduce and flourish in moist regions, especially where there is still water.  The most prone areas to malaria infection are rural areas below 600m (1970 ft). The exception to this rule of thumb is on Bohol Island, Borocay Island, Catanduanes Island, and Cebu Island. Subic Bay in particular is a high risk area for infection.

A simple precaution that halves malaria infection is the use of mosquito nets treated with indoor bug spray, such as permethrin.  These insecticide treatments are able to not only kill mosquitoes on contact but repel them, which aids in reducing the presence of infected mosquitoes in the immediate area. There are insecticidal nets that need to be re-treated regularly, while long-lasting insecticidal nets are effective throughout the life of the net.

Contributed by:

Carissa Connelly

Information retrieved from:

http://www.childinfo.org/malaria.html

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr43/en/index.html
http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/asia/philippines.php
MD Travel Health.com

http://www.medicinenet.com/leptospirosis/article.htm

So what are the risks here in the Philippines? According to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), many areas have been categorized as having sinkholes or hold the potential for sinkhole formation. By conducting Engineering Geological and Geo-hazard Assessments (EGGA) seven barangays in Bohol, namely Poblacion 3, Bool, Mansasa, Cabawan, Tiptip, Dao and Cogon have sinkhole pockets. In Cebu, an island approximately 60-70% composed of limestone has outlined the following barangay’s as having sinkholes: Barangay Talamban and Cabancalan. To date, there appear no immediate risk for the National Capital Region for sinkhole, or sinkhole formation.

The only way to detect if an area is susceptible to sinkhole formation is through core drilling or ground-penetrating radar. Therefore, any and all concerned local government units are urged to conduct EGGA to identify the possible geological hazards that exist within and in adjacent areas of new development.

Information sourced from:

Manila Bulletin: Indino, P.J. Pocket sinkholes seen in Bohol. June 4, 2010

Manila Bulletin: Sinkholes can occur in Cebu – MGB7 geologist. June 6, 2010