The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has recommended to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the declaration of a national state of calamity due to the impact of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng.”

In a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Sunday, Oct. 30, NDRRMC Chairman Jose Faustino Jr. said that Marcos directed the Council to submit a resolution recommending the declaration of a national state of calamity due to Paeng, to which they have already complied.

“Ito po ay amin nang ginawa at papunta na po ang aming recommendation recommending a declaration of national state of calamity (We already did this and our recommendation for the declaration of a national state of calamity is on its way ,” Faustino said.

Details of the resolution have yet to be divulged but NDRRMC Executive Director Raymundo Ferrer earlier recommended to Marcos that the national state of calamity should last for one year.

“The NDRRMC respectfully recommends for the following: declare a national state of calamity due to the effects, damage and projected impacts by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng for a period of one year, unless earlier lifted; and to accept offers of international assistance based on needs,” Ferrer said on Saturday, Oct. 29.

The declaration of a national state of calamity will allow local government units to tap their calamity funds and better respond to the immediate needs of the typhoon victims.

Once the recommendation reaches the Office of the President, it will be subjected to a review by Marcos pending its approval or rejection.

Meanwhile, Faustino conducted an aerial survey in Calabarzon (Region 4A), particularly in Cavite area, which is one of the areas hardest hit by widespread flooding.

He was accompanied by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Erwin Tulfo, and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Benhur Abalos.

“Sa aming pagiikot, nakita natin ang unti-unting pagbaba ng baha at patuloy ang report ng ating mga kasamahan lalo na ang regional agencies sa kanilang suporta. Tuloy-tuloy na relief operations na ang nangyayari hindi lang sa Calabarzon kundi sa lahat ng rehiyon na dinaanan ng bagyo (In our aerial survey, we observed that the floodwaters have already subsided and our regional agencies are continuously submitting reports to support relief operations. Our relief operations are continuous not only in Calabarzon but in all the regions affected by the typhoon),” Faustino said.

Faustino will also visit Maguindanao where 40 out of the 48 fatalities due to Paeng were recorded, and Visayas.

Paeng has so far affected more than 930,000 individuals in 14 out of 17 regions nationwide. It killed 48 persons while 40 others were injured and 22 were still missing.

Meanwhile, Faustino said all national government agencies were directed by the President to coordinate with the local government units to expedite their response.

They were also told to re-examine the timely dissemination of accurate information to the public on forecast track of weather disturbance and estimated amount of rain fall in order to effectively implement preemptive evacuation and minimize deaths in the future.

He said the NDRRMC was instructed by Marcos to immediately deploy potable water and water-purifying systems to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM); restore power in all affected areas with priority to hospitals and evacuation centers; and assist electric cooperatives that have damage in their distribution lines.

The DILG, in particular, was told to assist BARMM in downloading calamity funds so they can be used to address the needs of typhoon victims.

Likewise, the DSWD was instructed to continue the deployment and distribution of additional family food packs and water to affected residents in evacuation and non evacuation sites; and distribute financial assistance to individuals in crisis situation when the situation normalizes.

On the other hand, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was directed to clear impassable roads and put-up “Bailey-type” temporary bridges which would support damaged bridges “to facilitate relief, medical, and rescue mission access.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) was ordered to activate and preposition very small aperture terminals (VSATs) and satellite phones in areas without stable cellular signal.