MANILA, Philippines – The number of missing from tropical storm “Sendong” has jumped to 1,079 from 51, latest government data showed.

In a report released Friday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 1,054 of the reported missing were from the hardest hit areas of Cagayan de Oro City (626) and Iligan City (406).

The other reported missing came from Negros Oriental (18); Bukidnon (22); and Lanao del Sur (7).

In an interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Deputy Officer Engr. Florentino Sison explained that the improved coordination between disaster officials and people looking for their missing relatives had caused the figure to balloon to over a thousand.

He said NDRRMC officials stationed in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan may have finally updated the figure based on all the reports they received from the searching relatives.

Sison, however, said it is also possible that the people who were reported missing could also be included in the number of reported dead.

"That's the worst-case scenario," he said.

The NDRRMC said of the 1,080 fatalities, 445 have yet to be identified in Cagayan de Oro City, and 312 in Iligan City.

Damage

The damage to property from the tropical storm has also breached the P1 billion mark with P1,033,131,155.

The NDRRMC said the cost of damage to infrastructure was at P1.03 billion. The damage to the agriculture sector, on the other hand, was at P1.94 million.

The disaster agency said 28,049 houses were damaged from the tropical storm’s onslaught.

Three bridges and three roads also remain impassable.

Evacuation centers

A total of 41,288 individuals remain inside 17 evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro City.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez told ANC that the water supply situation in the city has improved.

He said the P54 million in funds pumped by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) into the Cagayan de Oro Water District had expedited the repairs of the damaged pumping stations in the city.

Rodriguez said he received reports that about 60% of the lost water capacity in the city has been restored. The remaining 40% is being augmented by various volunteers, he explained.

“It’s very touching, the bayanihan spirit really prevails. The private sector has given so much for our people,” he said.

With the congestion of the evacuation centers, Rodriguez said disaster and local government officials are planning to move several evacuees to schools across the city.

He added that the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) had given P4.8 million to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center for the medical needs of sick and injured residents.