“PEPITO” has left at least nine people dead as authorities continue with relief operations and early recovery efforts in areas devastated by the super typhoon a few days ago.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said seven of the fatalities perished in a rain-induced landslide in Ambaguio town in Nueva Vizcaya.
The two others, Nepomuceno said, died also in a landslide, in Asipulo town in Ifugao.
Nepomuceno said four individuals remain missing, including a couple swept away by strong currents in Nueva Ecija.
Nepomuceno said there could be more fatalities from Pepito if people living in hazard areas were not evacuated ahead of the impact of the super typhoon.
“Many heeded the call for preemptive evacuation. Many responded, some 423,780 families responded (to preemptive evacuation). They may have learned their lesson (from pass typhoons). It’s possible the evacuation helped,” said Nepomuceno.
Nepomuceno said the focus of authorities now is on relief operations and early recovery efforts in Catanduanes and in the affected areas.
“We’re still in relief efforts and early rehabilitation, especially in the hardest-hit Catanduanes. Many areas were also affected like Aurora, Pangasinan, Isabela but the hardest hit is Catanduanes,” he said.
“We’re in early recover, meaning we’re bringing in GI (galvanized iron) sheets, repair kits, and food from the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development),” he added.
Nepomuceno said they are not facing any problem as far as transport of relief supplies to local government units (LGUs) is concerned.
Aurora has declared state of calamity due to the effects of Pepito, said Elson Egargue, chief of the Aurora provincial disaster risk reduction and management office.
In a radio interview, he said Dinalungan town, where an evacuation center was damaged, and Dipaculao town were the worst hit in the province.
He also said Pepito affected some 61,000 individuals in the province and damaged some 411 houses, many of them in coastal areas.
He said damage to agriculture was extensive but could not immediately give an initial cost.
Egargue said 19 landslides were reported in the province and clearing operations were still ongoing as of yesterday. He said flooding was reported in some areas.
He said the still province was still experiencing power interruption, adding that efforts are underway to restore power.
Egargue also said the province has requested additional food packs from national government.
The Archdiocese of Manila ordered a second collection in all its parishes and communities during masses from Saturday night to the whole Sunday. Collections will go to Pepito’s victims.
Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula said all collections must be forwarded to the Archdiocese of Manila. – With Gerard Naval
