SUPER typhoon “Egay” is so far the eighth most destructive tropical cyclone in the last five years, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.
Egay, which exited the country last week, left nearly P5.5 billion in damage to infrastructure (P3.51 billion) and agriculture (P1.96 billion) based on a situation report released by the Camp Aguinaldo-based agency.
Meanwhile, typhoon “Falcon,” the country’s sixth tropical cyclone this year, exited the Philippine area of responsibility at around 3:30 p.m. yesterday, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Falcon has not directly affected the country as it stayed far from landmass but it enhanced the southwest monsoon which will continue to bring rains in many parts of Luzon (including Metro Manila) and the Visayas in the next days.
NDRRMC spokesman Edgar Posadas said from 2019 to 2023, the most damaging tropical cyclone (TC) was “Odette” which hit the country in 2022 and left some P47 billion in damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
Typhoon “Ulysses in 2021 left a P20.22-billion in damage to infrastructure and agriculture; super typhoon “Rolly,” 2020, P17.87 billion; severe tropical storm “Paeng,” 2022, P13.08 billion; typhoon “Tisoy,” 2019, P9.17 billion; severe tropical storm “Maring,” 2021, P7.38 billion; and typhoon “Ursula,” 2019, P5.71 billion.
“That puts Egay currently in Top 8, around P5.5 billion (in damage to infrastructure and agriculture),” said Posadas.
Typhoon “Quinta” in 2020 damaged P4.22 billion worth in infrastructure and agriculture.
The 10th most destructive typhoon since 2019 was super typhoon “Karding” which wreaked havoc in 2020, leaving P3.30 billion in damage.
“For this year, Egay is the most destructive in terms of damage to agriculture and infrastructure,” said Posadas.
He said the P5.47-billion damage to infrastructure and agriculture accounted under Egay is expected to rise in the coming days.
“We are also expecting the figures to go up since we are still receiving reports from our regional offices and member-agencies which are (conducting) ongoing validation,” said Posadas.
NDRRMC executive director Ariel Nepomuceno said, “For this year, Egay caused the most destruction to our infrastructure and agriculture. And unfortunately, we expect the figures to still increase in the coming days.”
“The local leaders and the ones giving the reports are still focused on assisting their local communities. They will continue updating or adjusting their reports,” Nepomuceno added.
Asked if they anticipated Egay will be this damaging, Posadas said, “In terms of preparedness on the national level, yes we anticipated that TC Egay will be damaging since it was already forecasted that it will reach the super typhoon category. Other than that, we are always preparing for the worst-case scenario.”
The cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture due to Egay was recorded in eight regions — Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Egay has also ”partially” and “totally” damaged 41,920 houses in these eight regions and in Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
AFFECTED FAMILIES
The number of affected population rose yesterday to 675,357 families or 2,476,907 individuals, the NDRRMC said.
Of the number, 15,666 families or 57,281 individuals are still housed in 763 evacuation centers. NDRRMC said 62,825 families or 260,694 individuals are also displaced but are staying with relatives or friends.
The number of reported deaths also increased to 26 —- 12 in CAR, eight in Ilocos, four in Calabarzon, and two in Western Visayas. The number of missing went down to 13 while the injured remained at 52.
NDRRMC said seven provinces — Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Pampanga, Bataan, Cavite, Abra and Mountain Province – and 14 cities and municipalities have declared state of calamity.
Posadas said some areas in the Ilocos and Central Luzon regions remained flooded yesterday.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is allocating an initial P200 million to provide immediate assistance for workers displaced and affected by Egay.
“Our regional offices in Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley will extend needed assistance, in coordination with affected LGUs and other government departments, particularly temporary emergency employment,” said Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
He said the allocation may still be increased after the profiling of affected workers.
The emergency employment program is a community-based assistance program wherein displaced workers are employed for a minimum period of 10 to 30 days, and paid with the minimum wage in the region.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said over 4.1 million Filipinos have been affected by Egay and Falcon in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas, including at least half a million displaced persons.
It added P41.758 million worth of assistance has been distributed to the affected families. — With Gerard Naval and Jocelyn Montemayor
