MANILA -- At least 23 schools are serving as temporary shelters for the victims of tropical depression "Urduja", the Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday.
"We strongly believe that the Filipino resiliency and camaraderie will get us through these trying times," the DepEd said in a statement as it urged the public to extend assistance to the affected communities.
There are seven evacuation centers in Tacloban City, six in Sorsogon, six in eastern Samar, three in Ormoc City and one in Tabaco City, the DepEd said in a statement.
"Urduja" made landfall over eastern Samar on Saturday (December 16), and has downgraded to a tropical depression before it made landfall over Malay, Aklan on Sunday (December 17).
Reports from state weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and DepEd – Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), "Urduja" has brought scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains over Regions IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII, and Caraga.
Data gathered by DepEd from the Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) revealed that 35,188 families from 326 barangays in Regions V, VIII, and Caraga have been affected as of December 16.
As of Monday, 11 a.m., PAGASA said "Urduja" has further weakened after crossing Palawan. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday, PAGASA added. (PNA)
