THE death toll from typhoon “Opong” increased to at least 20 persons yesterday as the province of Masbate, which has nine fatalities and is one of the worst affected areas, has declared a state of calamity.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol reported the nine deaths in Masbate.
Biliran Gov. Rogelio Espina said eight died in the province and two remained missing.
The NDRRMC reported two deaths in Cebu.
The 20th fatality was reported in Occidental Mindoro by the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO).
Most of the fatalities drowned or were hit by fallen trees.
OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said Opong has displaced 23,000 families in several regions. They are housed in 1,482 evacuation centers and are being attended to by the NDRRMC’s Camp Cooperation and Camp Management Cluster.
“We have enough food at the evacuation centers and our food and non-food item clusters continue to replenish family food packs in different areas,” said Castillo.
On Saturday night, Masbate Gov. Ricardo “Richard” Kho announced he has declared Masbate under state of calamity. He said some 16,000 families (57,000 individuals) have been affected by Opong.
A resolution declaring the state of calamity said strong winds and heavy rainfall brought by Opong caused “widespread damage to infrastructure, destruction of houses, displacement of families, damage to agriculture, loss of livelihood, and disruption in the delivery of essential services, there gravely affecting the lives and livelihood of Masbateños.”
It said the declaration “will facilitate and expedite relief, rehabilitation, and recovery operations, authorize the release and utilization of calamity funds, and provide basis for enforcement of price freeze and no-interest loans to affected constituents.”
OCD and social welfare officials flew to Masbate yesterday to conduct damage and needs assessment.
Masbate has three immediate needs which are materials needed to repair damaged houses, power, and telecommunications, according to Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV,
OCD deputy administrator for administration.
“There is no food problem here,” said Alejandro, noting that the Department of Social Welfare and Development prepositioned family food packs in the province before Opong struck.
“These are being replenished,” he said of the supplies.
BILIRAN, ROMBLON
In Biliran, Espina said the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) which he chairs is “inclined” to declare the province under state of calamity.
Espina said 2,355 families (7,329 individuals) have been displaced by Opong and are housed in 78 evacuation centers.
Romblon Gov. Trina Fabic said Romblon’s PDRRMC has recommended to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the declaration of a state of calamity.
“This is to allow the utilization of the quick response fund of the provincial government and of the LGUs (local government units) to respond to the needs of the affected people,” she said.
Fabic said 3,412 families (11,377 individuals) have been displaced by Opong in the province. There is also substantial damage to agriculture, and some national and provincial roads and bridges were likewise damaged.
Fabic also said many areas in the province are still experiencing brownout.
In Occidental Mindoro, the PDRRMO said 5,259 families (17,688 individuals) were affected by Opong, of which 4,356 families (12362 individuals) are inside evacuation centers.
Opong made its initial landfall in Eastern Samar last Thursday night after intensifying into a typhoon. It made four other landfalls — two in Romblon, and one each in Masbate and Oriental Mindoro – on Friday.
Opong exited the Philippine area of responsibility last Saturday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said..
PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said there will be “generally fair weather” in most parts of the country until the end of the month or until Tuesday.
Badrina said two to four tropical cyclones may develop or enter PAR next month.
DSWD, DOH AID
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday led national government teams in distributing of additional aid of around 14,000 family food packs to communities affected by Opong in Masbate.
Prior to the visit, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already the province at least around P6 million worth of food and non-food aid, for communities affected by the combined effects of Opong, super typhoon “Nando,” and tropical storm “Mirasol.”
Gatchalian and other DSWD officials met with Kho and other local government executives, and attended a session on disaster response at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office in Masbate.
He said the DSWD will provide emergency cash assistance to affected families soon, on top of the food and non-food relief items. He said details are still being finalized.
The Department of Health has sent to Masbate medicines and medical supplies amounting to P1.4 million.
The health department said it has also deployed 15 doctors and 199 nurses to Masbate. – With Jocelyn Reyes and Gerard Naval
