At least one person reportedly died due to Typhoon “Marce” while over 261,000 people were affected in three regions in Northern Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Sunday, Nov. 10.
President Marcos has assured those affected by Typhoon Marce that the government will not leave them behind as he vowed to ensure the swift reconstruction of their damaged houses.
Details as to the identity of the lone casualty as well as location and circumstance of the incident have yet to be verified by the NDRRMC in its latest situational report.
The typhoon, which exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday, Nov. 8, affected 261,787 individuals (76,622) families in Ilocos Region (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
At present, there were 26,803 individuals who were staying in 230 evacuation centers.
One person was also missing while another one was injured, both recorded in Region 1.
Forty-two areas in Cagayan were still flooded while two sea vessels ran aground in Ilocos Norte. Due to strong waves and winds, container ship “MV Aries 1” hit shallow waters off Brgy. Victoria while landing craft tank “Panphil 8” ran aground off the nearby Brgy. Gaang – both in Currimao town.
A rain-induced landslide was also noted in Brgy. Chanarian, Basco, Batanes, prompting immediate intervention from the local government as houses are located within the landslide-prone area. The NDRRMC said this has been the fourth time a landslide struck the area since Typhoon Julian.
A total of 29 road sections and 11 bridges were also deemed impassable to the public due to flooding, rockslide or landslide.
Marce also dealt a big blow to the country’s infrastructure sector, with loss amounting to P25,398,600. Damage to agriculture has yet to be confirmed as the affected regions were previously crushed by Typhoons Kristine and Leon.
160 dead due to ‘Kristine’, ‘Leon’
Meanwhile, the combined death toll due to Kristine and Leon further rose to 160, the NDRRMC said on Sunday.
Damage to infrastructure by the two consecutive weather disturbances reached a staggering P10.56 billion while agricultural loss was at P7 billion.
The NDRRMC said P1.5 billion worth of assistance has already been poured in for the victims of Kristine and Leon.
Marcos in Cagayan
Marcos led the distribution of government assistance to residents affected by the typhoon in Buguey, Cagayan on Sunday, Nov. 10.
In his speech, the President thanked the people for evacuating early as he recognized how difficult it must be for them to leave their homes behind.
“Alam namin mahirap para sa ibang tao na iwanan ang inyong bahay at iwanan ninyo ang pag-aari. Ngunit ito ang bubuhay sa inyo, ito ang sasalba sa inyo, eh (We know it’s hard for you to leave your houses and properties but this will save your lives),” he said.
With this, Marcos assured those affected that the government would immediately reconstruct houses damaged by Typhoon Marce in Cagayan.
“Ang dapat talaga nating tingnan ay ang reconstruction… yun ang tututukan natin (We need to focus on reconstruction),” he said.
Marcos vowed that the government would not abandon victims until they fully recovered from the typhoon’s effects. He said the aid provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue.
Typhoon Marce made landfall in the vicinity of Santa Ana and later in Sanchez-Mira, Cagayan, on Nov. 7.
Wind signals raised
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised tropical cyclone wind signals over 27 areas in Luzon, including the northern part of Metro Manila, on Sunday, Nov. 10, in preparation for Severe Tropical Storm “Nika” (international name: Toraji).
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Nika was located 500 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.
The severe tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and gusts reaching 125 kph. It is moving westward at 30 kph over the Philippine Sea.
If it continues on its current track, PAGASA said Nika may make landfall over Isabela or Aurora on Monday morning or early afternoon, Nov. 11.
“Regardless of the position of the landfall point, it must be emphasized that hazards may still be experienced in areas outside the landfall point or within the forecast confidence cone. The tropical cyclone will then traverse the landmass of mainland Northern Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea tomorrow evening,” PAGASA added.
Wind warnings
PAGASA said Nika will be classified as a typhoon once its maximum wind speed reaches between 118 and 184 kph. Therefore, the highest wind warning that may be issued during its passage is Signal No. 4.
As of late Sunday morning, Signal No. 2 has been raised over the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), Isabela, Quirino, southern portion of Cagayan (Solana, Iguig, Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile), Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 is in up over the rest of Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, eastern and central portions of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Tayug, Natividad, San Quintin, Umingan, Basista, Villasis, Malasiqui, San Fabian, Urbiztondo, Bautista, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Rosales, Dagupan City, Binalonan, Aguilar, Alcala, San Manuel, Asingan, Santo Tomas, Pozorrubio, Santa Maria, City of Urdaneta, Laoac, Mangatarem, San Carlos City, Manaoag, Binmaley, San Jacinto, Bayambang, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Balungao, Sison, Lingayen, Bugallon, Labrador), La Union, Benguet, the rest of Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, northern portion of Metro Manila (Navotas, Valenzuela, Malabon, Caloocan, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City), Rizal, northeastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Cavinti, Lumban, Luisiana), eastern portion of Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Pitogo, San Andres, Buenavista, San Francisco, Pagbilao, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso, General Nakar, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City, including Pollilo Islands), Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Rapu-Rapu).
Rainfall outlook
PAGASA warned of widespread and severe flooding and landslides due to intense, torrential rains (over 200 millimeters) in Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, and Aurora from Monday noon to Tuesday noon, Nov. 12.
Heavy to intense rainfall (100 to 200 millimeters) may also affect Kalinga, Mountain Province, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, and Abra.
Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rainfall (50 to 100 millimeters) may prevail over Tarlac, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.
Another potential cyclone
Moreover, Castañeda said PAGASA is closely monitoring the low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) for its potential development into another tropical cyclone.
The LPA was located 2,365 km east of northeastern Mindanao on Sunday morning.
There is a high chance that the LPA will develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours and could enter PAR by early Tuesday, Castañeda said.
Although the LPA is currently moving towards Cagayan Valley, its exact track remains uncertain, she added.
P80-million aid
During his visit, President Marcos handed over P10 million each to the municipalities of Aparri, Buguey, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Gattaran, Gonzaga, and Santa Ana. The funds were received by their respective local chief executives.
He also witnessed the distribution of assistance from different government agencies—the DSWD, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The DSWD distributed 1,800 food packs; the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), 200 packs of five-kilogram rice and 20 boxes of sardines; and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), 1,000 packs of 10kg rice.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) handed over P866.3 million in various interventions to farmers composed of hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer discounts, vegetable seeds, native chickens, and ducks.
The NDRRMC reported that as of Saturday, Nov. 9, a total of 326,137 Family Food Packs and P130,769,647.70 in Food and Non-Food Items (FNIs) at DSWD Field Offices I and II are available for augmentation and relief assistance.
100 tons of relief aid to calamity-hit Batanes
Philippine Navy landing dock BRP Davao del Sur (LD 602) will sail to Batanes to deliver relief supplies for victims of recent calamities, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced yesterday.
“The naval vessel is currently awaiting favorable weather conditions to set sail, ensuring a safe journey to the affected communities,” OCD Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said.
More than 100 tons of relief goods will be transported by BRP Davao del Sur including rice, food packs, hygiene kits, and construction materials for the victims of Super Typhoon Leon.
Batanes was also affected when Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” wreaked havoc last month, as well as the Typhoon Marce last week.
“As the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] has assured, help is on the way—by land, air, or sea. We are here to ensure that the needs of our citizens are met swiftly and efficiently,” Nepomuceno stated.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. commended the collective effort of the government agencies and private sector in alleviating the suffering of the calamity victims.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering the most needed help to our fellow Filipinos. This mission is a testament to the strength of our collaboration across government agencies and the private sector. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have contributed to this vital effort, ensuring that no one is left behind during these challenging times,” he said.