More than 930,000 Filipinos have now been affected by Severe Tropical Storm (STS) “Paeng” across 14 out of the 17 regions in the country while the number of fatalities already reached 48 on Sunday, Oct. 30.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 40 fatalities were recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), particularly in Maguindanao which was deeply affected by landslides and flashflood; three in Soccsksargen (Region 12); two each in Western Visayas (Region 6) and Eastern Visayas (Region 8); and one in Bicol (Region 5).
Forty people were also injured while 22 others were still missing in BARMM (10); Eastern Visayas (8); SOCCSKSARGEN (3); and Bicol (1).
There were also 277,383 families composed of 932,077 individuals that were affected by Paeng in Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7); Eastern Visayas (Region 8); Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Davao Region (Region 11), SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12), Caraga (Region 13), BARMM, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Out of the number, a total of 133,195 families or 364,746 people were displaced by Paeng: at least 44,847 families or 168,453 individuals were staying in 2,125 evacuation centers while 88,348 families or 196,293 individuals were staying with their relatives or friends after their houses were destroyed or flooded.
Air Force, Navy, Army lead HADR ops
Major service units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) wasted no time in conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in areas struck by Paeng across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) deployed rescue personnel in Maguindanao to help trapped residents while they utilized a Bell 412 helicopter through the Tactical Operations Wing Western Mindanao (TOW-WestMin) to conduct a rapid damage assessment and needs analysis (RDANA) in flood-hit Zamboanga City in the aftermath of Paeng.
“Nagstart po tayo sa Mindanao dahil doon naging matindi ang epekto ng Paeng. May mga narescue tayo na civilians dahil sa overflowing ng river sa Maguindanao at nakapagsalba tayo ng mga buhay (We started in Mindanao because it is where the effect of Paeng was massive. We rescued civilians when a river in Maguindanao overflowed and we saved lives),” said Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, PAF spokesperson.
“Sa Western Mindanao, nakapagdeploy din ng Bell 412 helicopter for RDANA in coordination with the local government. Nagkaroon ng matinding baha sa Zamboanga at maraming residente ang kailangan i-evacuate so very active ang disaster response teams (In Western Mindanao, we deployed a Bell 412 helicopter for RDANA in coordination with the local government. There was massive flooding in Zamboanga and many residents had to be evacuated so the disaster response teams were very active,” she added.
The PAF also conducted rescue operations and brought relief goods in Capiz in the Visayas via rubber boats since the roads were still inaccessible due to flooding. On Saturday night, the PAF deployed rescue teams in Noveleta, Cavite in Southern Luzon to save residents trapped on the roof of their houses due to flood, Castillo added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) 6th Infantry Division (6ID) worked with the 549th Engineer Battalion to help in road-clearing operations in Brgy. Kusiong, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao where at least 12 people died due to landslide.
The engineering teams used a backhoe, two dump trucks, and a backhoe ladder to clear the roads and give way to disaster teams to deliver relief assistance to the victims.
Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Army commanding general, said 21 disaster response units (DRUs), two urban search and rescue (USAR) teams, three aircraft, and 12 military trucks were readily available for rescue and relief operations nationwide.
For the Philippine Navy (PN), members of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) Marine Battalion Landing Team 5 (MBLT-5) conducted search and rescue operations in the municipalities of Parang and Datu Blah Sinsuat in Maguindanao when the province was hit by flashfloods.
Commander Benjo Negranza, PN spokesperson, said the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), Navy Special Operations Command SEAL Teams, Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 (MBLT-11), and reservists from the 93rd Marine Battalion Reserve also carried out separate search and rescue operations in flood-hit Barangay San Jose Gusu, Guiwan, and Tabuk in Zamboanga City.