By Nikolai Ordoña

In a briefing with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last Saturday, October 29,  National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Raymundo Ferrer recommended the declaration of a national state of calamity for at least one year to allow access to response funds and implement a price freeze on basic goods.

This came after conducting risk and damage assessments during the landfall of Typhoon Nalgae, locally known as “Paeng”, in the country last weekend, bringing strong winds and heavy rains as Filipinos are about to commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) first identified the low pressure area last Wednesday, October 26 east of Visayas, developing into tropical depression Paeng. 

On October 28, it reached the coastal waters of Rapu-Rapu, Albay and intensified into a severe tropical storm on the morning of Saturday, October 29. 

Paeng made a total of five landfalls in the following areas:

• 1:10 AM: Virac, Catanduanes
• 1:40 AM: Caramoan, Camarines Sur
• 6:00 AM: Buenavista, Quezon
• 8:40 AM: Santa Cruz, Marinduque
• 1:40 PM: Sariaya, Quezon

As of 10 in the morning, NDRRMC has stated that out of the 277,783 families or 923,077 individuals affected by the storm, 60 have been reported dead, while 40 are injured, and 22 are missing. 

Most of these numbers came from the 55 areas placed under state of calamity in the regions of Bicol, Western and Eastern Visayas, SOCCSKSARGEN, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

Based on the Department of Agriculture’s continuous assessment, the agricultural damage of Typhoon Paeng reached Php 49.54-million, affecting 1,949 hectares of areas and 762 farmers, while the production loss is estimated at 2,543 metric tons.

The government also recorded a total of 669 damaged houses from Cordillera, MIMAROPA, Visayas, Davao, and other regions. As of writing, damage assessments are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) estimated that nearly 40,000 families are still staying in 1,870 evacuation centers, in which about Php 22.3-million assistance is being disbursed.

Amidst all of these, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. expressed dismay at the high casualties especially in Maguindanao with 40 dead.

“We could have done better in Maguindanao in terms of preparing. Because the 40 casualties… with 10 people missing is a little too high. We could have done better than that,” Marcos said.

He asked the Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. why there were no flood warnings, but Solidum said that the heavy rainfalls were emphasized and flood advisories were issued.

On Sunday morning, Paeng had left Luzon and weakened into a tropical storm. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility today, October 31.

Thumbnail from Mindanews