NDRRMC recommends declaring national state of calamity due to Paeng

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Saturday recommended that the country be placed under a state of calamity due to the devastation brought by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.
 
During the briefing with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., NDRRMC Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense Administrator Raymundo Ferrer recommended to the President to declare a national state of calamity for a period of one year, unless earlier lifted.

A state of calamity would enable the government to tap additional funds for disaster relief and impose a price freeze on basic commodities.

In response, Marcos said that he would wait and study the resolution to be submitted by the NDRRMC.

“I just have one question, itong final recommendation ninyo, national state of calamity yung what you are recommending, but there are areas that are not in the state of calamity,” he said.
 
(I just have one question. A national state of calamity is what you’re recommending, but there are areas that are not in the state of calamity.)

“Maraming regions are affected, that already justifies the state of calamity. Let me wait for your resolution and tignan ko. It looks like especially Region 5, BARMM is going to be put under a state of calamity, kahit yun lang muna,” he added.
 
(Several regions are affected, and that already justifies the state of calamity. Let me wait for your resolution and I will study it. It looks like especially Region 5 and BARMM are going to be put under a state of calamity. Just those regions first.)

Based on a pre-disaster risk assessment, Ferrer said 15 out of 17 regions and a total of 21,148 barangays were susceptible to the onslaught of Paeng as of October 28.
 
He said 64 provinces are within the 850-kilometer diameter of Paeng, 25 of which are at high risk or within the 200-kilometer diameter.
 
“In summary, 16 out of 17 regions are assessed as high risk,” he said.
 
Ferrer also recommended accepting offers of international assistance based on needs. 

Meanwhile, Marcos directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to clear impassable roads and put up Bailey-type temporary bridges in the case of damaged bridges to facilitate relief, medical, and rescue mission access.

The President also ordered the Department of Information and Communications Technology to activate pre-positioned VSAT and satellite phones in areas with unstable cellular signals.

He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development must continue the deployment and distribution of additional family food packs and water to affected residents in evacuation and non-evacuation sites.

When the situation normalizes, Marcos said the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation should also be implemented by the DSWD.

He also instructed government agencies to reexamine the timely dissemination of accurate information to the public on the forecast track of a weather disturbance and the estimated amount of rainfall in order to effectively implement preemptive evacuation and minimize deaths.

Effects

During his presentation, Ferrer said 45 individuals were dead, while 33 were injured, and 13 missing persons were reported in Regions 6, 12, and BARMM.

Ferrer said at least 41,378 families or 158,040 individuals were preemptively evacuated in the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10.

He said at least 72,716 families or 271,359 persons were affected in the regions of CAR, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, and Caraga.

A total of 8,083 families or 31,140 individuals were currently taking temporary shelter inside and outside the evacuation centers.

At least 219 areas are still flooded, while 37 rain-induced landslides in the regions of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, Caraga, and BARMM.

He said 68 roads and 17 bridges are not passable in Regions 2, 5, 6, 8, 12, CAR, and BARMM.

Power interruptions were experienced in 19 municipalities in Calabarzon and Regions 5, 6, and 12.

Meanwhile, 72 seaports were non-operational in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Regions 5, 6, 8, and 11.

At least 3,376 passengers, 976 rolling cargoes, 86 vessels, and 19 motorbancas were stranded.

Five domestic flights were also canceled in Region 5.

A total of 293 damaged houses were recorded, of which 172 were partially damaged and 121 were totally damaged in Regions 6, 7, 11, 12, Caraga, and BARMM. — VBL, GMA News