Monsoon, Twin Cyclones Batter Luzon; 8 Dead, ₱1.1B in Infrastructure Damage

The combined onslaught of the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) and Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay has left at least eight people dead and impacted approximately 752,000 individuals across nine regions, disaster officials confirmed on Monday.

According to the latest situation report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the weather disturbances triggered widespread flooding and secondary disasters like landslides, trapping thousands in waterlogged provinces.

Casualties and Displacement

The NDRRMC verified eight weather-related fatalities across Luzon:

• Batangas: Three deaths attributed to drowning, electrocution, and a landslide.
• Rizal: Three deaths resulting from a rockslide in Rodriguez and a fallen tree in Antipolo.
• Benguet: Two fatalities caused by rain-induced landslides.

Nine individuals were reported injured, while one resident remains missing in Batangas. The relentless rainfall also forced 34,400 people to flee their homes, with evacuees currently taking shelter inside 412 evacuation centers nationwide.

Infrastructure and Agricultural Toll

The financial impact of the continuous rains has breached the billion-peso mark:

Infrastructure: Damage to public property is estimated at ₱1.12 billion. The NDRRMC logged 323 damaged infrastructure facilities, which include 437 affected road sections and 27 bridge sections. Additionally, 306 houses were hit, with 20 completely destroyed.

Agriculture: The Department of Agriculture (DA) separate field validation indicates that overall agricultural losses have climbed to ₱135.3 million across 4,516 hectares of farmland. Rice farms bore the brunt of the weather, sustaining ₱102.01 million in losses, affecting more than 6,000 farmers across the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas.

Relief Operations and Government Response

In response to the crisis, Malacañang ordered all government welfare agencies to fast-track relief operations. The government has already distributed ₱33.94 million in humanitarian assistance and relief goods to affected families. Furthermore, the DA has prepared ₱106.5 million in immediate agricultural assistance—including pre-positioned crop seeds, livestock fertilizers, and credit access—to help farmers quickly replant as soon as field conditions clear up.

The state weather bureau PAGASA warned that while the cyclones have moved away, the Habagat remains active and will continue to bring heavy rain over western Luzon, maintaining high alert risks for further flash floods and landslides.