Philippines – Floods (ADINet, PAGASA) (ECHO Daily Flash of 12 July 2021)

  • Heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms have been affecting Mindanao Island (particularly the Davao Region) since 8 July, causing floods that have resulted in evacuations and damage.
  • The ASEAN Disaster Information Network (ADINet) reports, as of 12 July, 605 evacuated people across three evacuation centres, around 22,550 affected people and three damaged bridges in the Region, in particular across the Davao City area.
  • Over the next 24 hours, more heavy rain is forecast over the whole Mindanao Island.

 

 

Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

ASEAN Weekly Disaster Update Week 27, 5 – 11 July 2021

REGIONAL SUMMARY:

 

For the twenty-seventh (27th) week of 2021, a total of 28 disasters (18 floods, 4 landslide, 2 storms, and 4 wind-related) affected the region. Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam have reportedly been affected. Several localised heavy rainfall which caused flooding and landslide and wind-related events occurred in Indonesia as reported by Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana (BNPB). Heavy rains brought by the InterTropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) caused flooding in Davao City and heavy rainfall in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat as reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) of Thailand reported winds and storms in Saraburi and Phetchaburi Provinces. Lastly, the Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA) reported that a low pressure trench caused flooding in Lao Cai province.

 

HIGHLIGHT:

 

On 9 July, according to the NDRRMC, moderate to at times heavy rainfall with lightning and strong winds caused by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) resulted in flooding in various areas of Bunawan and Paquibato Districts in Davao City. It was reported that 4.5K families (22.6K persons) were affected and 605 were displaced into their relatives’ and friends’ homes and into three evacuation centres. Close coordination between national and regional offices are on-going for significant reports on status of affected families, assistance and relief efforts.

 

HYDRO-METEO-CLIMATOLOGICAL:

 

For the past week, data from the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) showed high 7-day average rainfall in the coast of Cambodia, West of Aceh, and western coast of Thailand. Relatively high rainfall can also be seen throughout the region except for Java Island of Indonesia. As of reporting, there is no tropical cyclone advisory by JTWC.

 

GEOPHYSICAL:

 

Thirteen (13) significant earthquakes (M≥5.0) were recorded in the region by Indonesia’s Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Ili Lewotolok in Indonesia (Alert level III) and Taal Volcano in the Philippines (Alert level 3) reported recent volcanic activity and are under close monitoring. Volcanic activity was also reported for Mount Semeru, Ibu, Krakatau, and Dukono in Indonesia according to PVMBG and PHIVOLCS.

 

OUTLOOK:

 

According to the ASMC, for the coming week, wetter conditions should be expected in much of the central and eastern maritime continent and the southeastern part of Mainland Southeast Asia. Drier conditions however should be expected in parts of the western Maritime Continent and warmer temperatures for the southern part of the Maritime Continent. For the regional assessment of extremes, there is a moderate increase in chance for a very heavy rainfall event in Southern Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku Islands and West Papua; moderate increase in chance for extended dry conditions in Northern Sumatra, Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia; and a moderate increase in chance for extreme hot conditions in the Southern Maritime Continent.

 

 

Source: ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance

MAN INVESTIGATED FOR PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION TO A PUBLIC SERVANT

The Police are investigating a 72-year-old man for allegedly providing false information to a public servant.

On 8 July 2021 at about 10.25pm, the Police received a report where the man had claimed to have been robbed by two unknown men along Toh Guan Road East.

During the course of investigations, officers from Clementi Police Division detected several inconsistencies between the man’s account and the CCTV footages that were obtained by officers. Investigations revealed that the man had allegedly provided false information to the Police and was not a victim of the reported crime.

Police investigations against the man are ongoing. The offence of giving any information which a person knows to be false to a public servant carries an imprisonment term which may extend to 2 years, a fine, or both.

The Police would like to remind the public that police resources can be put to better use in dealing with real crimes and emergencies than investigating into false reports or false information. Those who lodge false police reports or provide false information will face serious consequences under the law.

 

Source: Singapore Police Force

COVID-19 COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AT FOREFRONT OF TALKS BETWEEN DFA SECRETARY LOCSIN AND VISITING AUSTRALIAN MINISTER SESELJA

PASAY CITY 12 July 2021 – The Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon. Senator Zed Seselja, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. on 08 July 2021 to discuss COVID-19 Cooperation and Development Cooperation. The visit was undertaken under the ambit of the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Australia this year.

In welcoming Minister Seselja to the Philippines, Secretary Locsin expressed satisfaction at the deep and enduring friendship between the Philippines and Australia. They discussed closer engagement and cooperation in the areas of economic development and post-pandemic recovery.

Under its “Partnerships for Recovery” framework, Australia has committed $35.9 million (PHP1.33 billion) in vaccine support and delivery for the Philippines, in addition to about PHP480 million worth of assistance for the Philippines’ vaccine procurement through UNICEF. Australia’s Regional Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative, meanwhile, provides more than $500 million for the procurement of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the ASEAN region.

Secretary Locsin and Minister Seselja reaffirmed the convergence of interests of the two countries and committed to intensified bilateral relations covering diplomatic coordination, defense and security, the maintenance of regional peace and stability, as well as maritime cooperation, particularly in the management of protected reefs and marine resources.

The two Ministers recognized the importance of conducting the Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting between the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministers of the Philippines and Australia this year, as a mechanism that institutionalizes the deepening partnership between the two countries.

 

 

 

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs