Camarines Norte begins recovery after Pepito

Several towns in Camarines Norte have begun to recover from the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Pepito which battered parts of Luzon over the weekend.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo's report in  24 Oras on Monday, Pepito’s wrath was evident in Calaguas Island, which was placed under Signal No. 5, as 27 houses were totally damaged and 124 were partially destroyed.

The Banocboc Elementary School will require major repairs after all but one of its classrooms lost their roof.

“This is the first time we experienced being in Signal No. 5 during a super typhoon. It all started at 1 a.m. and it became stronger at 3 a.m., which lasted until 11 in the morning,” said barangay captain Welisa Salen.

While the over 1,000 evacuees have returned to their homes, fisherfolk are in need of help.

“Fishing is our source of income here. So when the weather is fine, they can proceed with their fishing activities. Otherwise, they cannot do their livelihood,” said Salen. 

In the town of Mercedes, fishermen resumed fishing after two days. But small boats are sticking close to the shore for now.

The town’s fish sellers have also restarted business.

Meanwhile, people returned to the beaches of Daet to surf and swim.

However, the Santa Rosa family in Barangay Bagasbas is not just recovering from the wrath of Pepito but also from the loss of their patriarch.

Mang Rogelio, 67, was on his way from the evacuation  center to bring food to their pet dogs onboard his motorcycle.

Unfortunately, a hanging cable that was toppled by the storm along the road snagged him at the neck and  caused him to fall from his vehicle.

The family will receive assistance from the local government. 

The Office of the Civil Defense said Mang Rogelio’s death could not be directly attributed to Pepito.
—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News