The death toll due to the combined effect of Tropical Storm ''Crising'' and the enhanced southwest monsoon increased to 12, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported on Wednesday.

In a radio interview, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed the PNP report, noting most victims died after being hit by fallen trees and drowning.

"I received the same report... in BARMM (Bangasamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim MIndanao, Region 9 and Region 10 most of the victims were hit by fallen trees because the soil was already softened (by rain)," he said.

"There were three (victims) in Rizal, they were drinking at the river side when they were swept away because they did not notice that the water level suddenly increased," he added.

As of Wednesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 29 cities and municipalities were placed under state of calamity in Ilocos Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and National Capital Region (NCR).

The damage to infrastructure in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and CAR reached to P562,387,772.28 while a total of 1,642 houses were damaged because of the weather disturbances.

A total of 55 road sections and eight bridges remain not passable in the affected regions while 13 cities and municipalities are still waiting for the restoration of their power supply.

The number of affected families continues to increase to 401,439 or 1,412,845 persons. Of which 21,207 families or 77,108 persons were displaced and being served within the 537 evacuation centers while 13,724 families or 64,597 persons were outside the evacuation centers. Robina Asido/DMS