Kristine death toll increases to 145

MANILA, Philippines — The number of fatalities from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine has increased to 145, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The NDRRMC said of the reported fatalities, 14 have been validated. It said 115 people were injured and 37 were reported missing.

Kristine displaced more than 761,000 people, with over 333,000 staying in evacuation centers.

The agency said the amount of damage to agriculture was estimated at P2.8 billion.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the amount of damage to rice and other crops has increased to P3.7 billion. Damage to infrastructure was placed at P3.6 billion.

Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator for operations at the Office of Civil Defense, said power has been restored in 228 of 352 cities and municipalities that experienced outages at the height of Kristine.

Alejandro said 86 of 99 road sections destroyed by Kristine are now passable to all types of vehicles.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Kristine displaced 251,000 workers, mostly in Bicol and Calabarzon.

Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said the government would focus its cash for work program in these regions.

In Bicol, Benavidez said the DOLE is aiming to extend emergency employment to more than 83,000 typhoon-affected workers. A majority of them are in Camarines Sur.

Residents whose homes or businesses were destroyed and incurred losses can avail themselves of the DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Displaced and Disadvantaged Workers or TUPAD program.

Aside from providing emergency employment, Benavidez said livelihood assistance would be given to typhoon victims.

Help continues to pour in for people displaced by Kristine, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged to donate 33,000 family food packs for the victims.

Gatchalian met with UAE Ambassador Mohammed Obaid Alzaabi and Emirates Red Crescent board chairman Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei on Tuesday to discuss the embassy’s plan to roll out humanitarian assistance.

He said the UAE embassy would provide critical relief