Tropical depression displaces 17,000 Philippine families

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Nearly 17,000 families were displaced by a typhoon that hit several parts of southern Philippines.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Wednesday that tropical depression "Crising" has displaced 16,739 families or 59,000 people all over Mindanao. Around 735 families are staying in evacuation centers.

Crising killed one person while four were injured.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said as of midday, Crising has slowed down as it crosses over the Sulu Sea. The center of the tropical depression was located at 260 km northwest of Zamboanga City.

In a separate briefing, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the government has put in place disaster-preparedness measures in response to the effects of tropical depression Crising.

Lacierda said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepared 39.6 million pesos ($974,890) worth of assistance for the victims of Crising.

Of the total amount, 15.5 million pesos were in the form of standby funds and 24.1 million pesos for relief supplies.

The DSWD is currently assisting 644 families in Northern Mindanao and 8,820 families in the Davao region.