Christmas blues: 1 million individuals still in temporary shelters one week since ‘Paeng’

by Martin Sadongdong, MB

A week since Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng” hit the country, the Christmas season would be a little lonelier for more than one million individuals who are still yet to return to their homes and relying on relief assistance being offered by the national and local government.

Teachers of Oquendo Elementary School in Balete town, Aklan traverse floodwater during the height of tropical storm Paeng last Oct. 27, 2022.  (Bufv Billones/Facebook)

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that out of 4,124,267 Paeng-affected individuals nationwide, a total of 1,034,250 individuals were still staying in and outside evacuation centers as of Friday, Nov. 4. 

Of this, 123,024 individuals were in 1,186 evacuation centers across 17 regions while 911,226 individuals were staying outside evacuation centers, which means that they were living with their relatives or friends for the meantime.

The death toll increased to 154 as four new fatalities were reported to the NDRRMC. Out of the number, 101 deaths have been confirmed while 53 others are still being validated.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) had the most number of fatalities with 63; followed by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon or Region 4A) and Western Visayas (Region 6) with 33 each; Eastern Visayas (Region 8) with five; Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) and SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City or Region 12) with four apiece;

MIMAROPA (Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan or Region 4B) with three; Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Bicol Region (Region 5), and Central Visayas (Region 7) with two each; and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with one death. 

In BARMM, the Bangsamoro government said the Office of the Chief Minister distributed 3,500 sacks of 10-kilo rice to storm-affected residents in the towns of General Salipada K. Pendatun (GSKP) and Talayan in Maguindanao del Sur last Nov. 2.

“We thank our leaders for the swift and immediate response. This will be a big help for us who are affected by the storm,” 34-year-old Bilma Mala, a resident of GSKP, was quoted as saying by the Bangsamoro government.

Courtesy of BARMM Government / Facebook

Sacks of rice were also distributed to residents in Basilan, Sultan Kudarat, and Maguindanao del Norte.

Agri, infra damage

The damage to agriculture and infrastructure wrought by Paeng has already reached P5.6 billion, the NDRRMC said. 

In agriculture, damage was pegged at P2.7 billion which resulted in a production loss of 116,673.9 metric tons and affecting over 77,000 hectares of crops.

The agriculture industry in Bicol Region remains as the most affected with damage placed at P859 million; followed by CALABARZON at P726 million; Central Luzon at P443 million; Central Visayas at P376 million; and MIMAROPA at P278 million.

Meanwhile, the estimated cost of damage to infrastructure amounted to P2.9 billion after it was reported that 391 infrastructure projects such as seawalls, roads, bridges, and flood-control structures were damaged.

CALABARZON incurred the biggest infrastructure loss at P1.1 billion; followed by Bicol Region at P708 million; Central Visayas at P277 million; MIMAROPA at P160 million; Davao Region (Region 10) at P110 million; and Cagayan Valley at P101 million.

There were 25,109 houses that were also damaged in the affected regions.

Power supply

Until now, many residents in more than 100 cities and municipalities were living in the dark as power supply is yet to be restored in their localities.

The NDRRMC said a total of 359 areas experienced power interruption during the onslaught of Paeng. As of Friday, power supply was restored in 234 areas while 125 areas have no electricity yet.

Those who have yet to restore their power supply were some areas in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan in Region 1; Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan, Isabela in Region 2; Bulacan in Region 3; Quezon Province, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal in Region 4A; Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate in Region 5;

Negros Occidental, Antique, Capiz in Region 6; Cebu and Bohol in Region 7; Southern Leyte and Samar in Region 8; Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat in Region 12; and Maguindanao in BARMM.

‘Paeng’ maintains strength; TD east of northeastern Mindanao to enter PAR Monday morning

Published October 31, 2022, 12:28 AM

by Charie Mae F. Abarca

Tropical storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) maintained its strength while moving east southeastward away from the Philippine landmass, said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Sunday evening, Oct. 30.

The latest bulletin released by PAGASA showed that Paeng was last seen 255 kilometers (km) west of Iba, Zambales, packing winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

Due to this weather disturbance, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still in effect over the following areas in Luzon: Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Metro Manila, the western and central portions of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, the northwestern portion of Oriental Mindoro, the northwestern portion of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, and the northern portion of Quezon. 

“Paeng may exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) [on Monday afternoon, Oct. 31] or evening,” said PAGASA.

(PAGASA)

Cyclone east of northeastern Mindanao

Another tropical cyclone will enter the Philippine boundary on Monday morning, Oct. 31, PAGASA warned. 

The cyclone was last spotted 1,055 km east of northeastern Mindanao.

“It will enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) [on Monday] morning as tropical depression Queenie. Inside the PAR region, this tropical cyclone will begin turning generally northwestward by late tomorrow or on Tuesday while heading towards the sea east of Caraga region or Eastern Visayas,” said the state weather bureau.

This tropical depression, however, is unlikely to directly affect the country until Tuesday, Nov. 1. It may weaken into a remnant low by Wednesday, Nov. 2.

'Paeng' to exit Monday

By Arlie O. Calalo 

The weather bureau on Sunday lowered storm signals as Tropical Storm Paeng exited Luzon although it has yet to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that "Paeng" will leave PAR on Monday.

Signal No. 2 remains hoisted in Pangasinan, La Union, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (City of Candon, Banayoyo, Galimuyod, Sigay, Suyo, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Alilem, Tagudin, Sugpon, Cervantes, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Salcedo, Lidlidda, San Emilio, Santiago, Burgos, Santa Maria, San Esteban), Benguet, Tarlac, Zambales, the western portion of Bataan (Morong, Bagac, Dinalupihanullet and Hermosa), the western portion of Pampanga (Floridablanca, Mabalacat City, Magalang, Angeles City and Porac), and the northwestern portion of Nueva Ecija (Guimba, Cuyapo, Talugtug and Nampicuan).

Signal No. 1 is still up in Metro Manila, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Abra, Ilocos Norte, the rest of Ilocos Sur, Aurora, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Pampanga, Bulacan, the rest of Bataan, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Cavite, Quezon including Pollilo Islands, Marinduque, the northwestern portion of Romblon (Concepcion, Banton and Corcuera), Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Calamian Islands, Camarines Norte, and the northwestern portion of Camarines Sur (Lupi, Ragay, Del Gallego and Sipocot).

"Tropical Storm Paeng has exited the landmass of Luzon and it will track generally westward until this Sunday afternoon before turning north-northwestward," Pagasa said. "Paeng will likely exit PAR Monday morning or afternoon," it added.

In the next 12 hours, moderate to heavy rain may prevail in Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Pangasinan, Batanes, and the northern portion of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands while light to moderate with at times heavy rain is likely in Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Camarines Provinces, Western Visayas, the rest of Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon.

Except in areas with significant antecedent rainfall or those still experiencing persistent heavy rainfall, flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely to slowly subside, Pagasa said.