The Philippine Online Chronicles

The government has declared a national state of emergency as authorities fear that the number of casualties from the onslaught of tropical storm Sendong (international name Washi) could breach 1,000.

At least 957 people had been confirmed dead, while at least 49 are still missing based on the 6 a.m. update of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDDRMC).

GMANews.tv said the latest body count “is already double the number of fatalities from Typhoon Ondoy in 2009,” wherein 464 were killed. Cagayan de Oro has the highest number of deaths so far with 579 – which is in itself higher than Ondoy’s fatalities. Of this count, 307 bodies are still unidentified as of this writing.

Around 63,079 families or 338,415 people in 30 towns and eight cities in 13 provinces had been affected by the storm based on the NDRRMC’s latest bulletin. Of this figure, 9,743 families or 42,733 persons are staying in evacuation centers.

Damage to property was estimated at P1.936 million,  including P1.551 million in agriculture in Caraga, and P385,015 in Bicol.

The affected regions, particularly Northern Mindanao, CARAGA, and Central Visayas, continue to experience power interruptions.

The palace said that under the national state of emergency, government lending and financial institutions can already grant no-interest loans to the most affected communities. Price controls will be also be imposed.

President Benigno Aquino III is visiting Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete today to meet with local officials and visit some of the affected areas.

But the palace has been drawing flak for its “partying” amid the rising death toll and widespread damage in Sendong’s aftermath, and its veto of disaster preparation budget for this year.

Kabataan Party-List representative Raymong “Mong” Palatino said President Aquino’s veto of the P5 billion allocation in the 2011 budget for disaster preparation “has weakened the government’s capacity to respond to natural disasters,” Interaksyon.com said.

Palatino filed last month House Resolution 1864, which seeks an inquiry on the impact of the president’s veto of disaster preparation.

The president also drew Filipino netizen’s ire after actress Valerie Concepcion tweeted about President Aquino joining her at the Presidential Security Group’s (PSG) party on Sunday.