The reported deaths from the combined effects of Severe Tropical Storm Opong, Super Typhoon Nando, Tropical Depression Mirasol and the southwest monsoon climbed to 27, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported yesterday.
The NDRRMC said four of theThe reported deaths from the combined effects of Severe Tropical Storm Opong, Super Typhoon Nando, Tropical Depression Mirasol and the southwest monsoon climbed to 27, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported yesterday. reported fatalities have been confirmed while 23 are for validation.
It said 16 people remain missing while 33 were injured.
In total, the NDRRMC said 3.4 million people across 16 regions were affected by Opong and other weather disturbances.
Fifty-three cities and towns have declared a state of calamity.
The Office of Civil Defense said it is expediting rehabilitation efforts in Masbate, the hardest hit province.
Masbate calls for aid
With residents ‘in dire need’ of rice, safe drinking water and construction materials, the Diocese of Masbate is calling for donations to help the affected families.
Caritas Philippines said solar chargers, lamps and temporary shelters are needed.
In neighboring Romblon, people are asking for food packs, shelter repair kits and solar lamps.
President Marcos directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure that all affected communities would receive assistance.
‘What the President wants is clear: make sure that no one among our countrymen affected by the storm will be left behind,’ Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters yesterday.
‘The government is ready to help – from disaster response to the rehabilitation of the province. Government agencies continue to work together to ensure the recovery of Masbate,’ she added.
Castro said social welfare personnel are in Masbate to provide aid to storm-hit communities, and have visited the evacuation centers at Nursery Elementary School, Bolo National High School and Milagros National High School to check on the condition of evacuees and determine the assistance they need.
She added that national and local governments initially distributed food packs to the displaced families.
PNP pushes disaster response training
The Philippine National Police is set to institutionalize disaster response training within the PNP and strengthen community participation to boost preparedness ahead of typhoons and other calamities.
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the move comes as the country braces for more cyclones, with the state weather bureau forecasting at least two tropical systems to enter the Philippine area of responsibility in October.
‘We face strong typhoons every year, and we cannot change that. But we can make sure our personnel are prepared and equipped when deployed as frontliners,’ Nartatez said yesterday.
The PNP regularly mobilizes thousands of officers during calamities to assist local government units in preemptive evacuation, search and rescue, road-clearing and relief distribution.
Nartatez said the police force aims to integrate disaster response into its training programs, ensuring that best practices from past operations are passed on to new recruits.
‘Many of our personnel already have a high level of expertise from their experience on the ground. We want these best practices included in our training for future police officers,’ he said.
Beyond training and equipment, Nartatez stressed the importance of police-community collaboration, particularly in disaster-prone areas.
‘If we need to help hold training at the barangay level, we will do so to ensure that everyone knows what to do before, during and after typhoons and other calamities,’ he added.
DICT taps Starlink
Meanwhile, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda said they are tapping the help of US satellite communications giant Starlink to provide emergency connectivity in storm-ravaged Masbate.
Aguda said he coordinated with Starlink’s global emergency response team on Sunday, adding that the group pledged to deploy Starlink units and a response team to the province.
As of yesterday, only 23 percent of cell sites had been restored on the island. Globe and Smart sent generator sets to power their downed towers, Aguda said.
‘I would like to thank Converge, they were the first to respond by sending their technical people,’ he added.