NDRRMC: Gov't allocated over P800M to help Kristine, Leon victims

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Thursday the government has allocated P895.658 million to help victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon that battered the province of Batanes.

In a statement, the NDRRMC said the allocation covers food  and non-food items supplied by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and local government units.

Further, contributions from various non-government organizations are also included in the allocation.

Based on the 8 a.m. report of the NDRRMC, a total of 150 individuals have been reported killed due to the combined effects of Kristine and Leon.

It added that 29 people were reported missing and 115 were reported injured.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, weather bureau PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 was hoisted over Batanes as Leon started to move away from the province.

PAGASA said Leon is now heading towards Taiwan. The center of Leon was located 110 kilometers north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes and moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

About 20 big storms and typhoons hit the Philippines or its surrounding waters each year, damaging homes and infrastructure and killing dozens of people. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News