The onslaught of typhoon “Betty” affected about 3,821 families or 14,908 individuals residing in 94 villages across the country.
The latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed that 216 families were currently staying in 31 evacuation centers in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas and Cordillera Administrative Region.
The government had facilitated the preemptive evacuation of some 1,815 families or 5,981 individuals in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas and Central Visayas.
NDRRMC said 123 domestic flights and 18 international flights were canceled due to the inclement weather in Cagayan Valley, CAR, and the National Capital Region, while 53 seaports remained non-operational in Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas.
The government has estimated a total of P68,695.58 in damage to infrastructure in CAR.
The government has extended some P1,958,008.60 in assistance to affected families in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and CAR.
In a briefing on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the typhoon is expected to steadily weaken in the next five days.
Pagasa weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the typhoon maintained its strength as it accelerated northwestward over the sea east northeast of Batanes.
The typhoon may be downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Thursday or to a tropical storm on Saturday. ‘Betty’ is forecast to accumulate 50 to 100 millimeters of rainfall in locos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra and Benguet.
Pagasa warned the public of possible flooding and rain-induced landslides, especially in high or very highly susceptible areas.
Meanwhile, the wind signals previously hoisted in some areas of Luzon have been lifted.
Typhoon “Betty” is forecast to gradually accelerate until Thursday while moving generally northward over the waters east of Batanes, although it would pose some wobbling in its movement and it will turn more northeastward beginning Thursday evening.