TACLOBAN CITY – Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces were placed under state of calamity following the widespread destruction caused by super typhoon ‘’Uwan’’ earlier this week.

The Northern Samar provincial government announced on Thursday that Gov. Harris Ongchuan, chairman of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), approved on Wednesday the recommendation to declare a state of calamity.

PDRRMC officer Rei Josiah Echano moved for the passage of the resolution in view of the super typhoon’s extensive damage to lives, homes, and infrastructure.

Uwan battered Northern Samar with powerful winds and heavy rains from the evening of Nov. 8 until noon of Nov. 9, displacing 36,843 families or approximately 130,356 individuals, particularly from coastal, landslide-prone, and other vulnerable communities.

The PDRRMC also recorded 94,199 affected families in 548 barangays, with 16,826 houses partially damaged and 426 totally destroyed, mostly in the municipalities of Biri, Laoang, and Rosario.

Rapid damage assessment and needs analysis teams also reported damage to several public infrastructure, including the iconic Pinusilan Bridge, which collapsed after being pounded by massive waves and storm surges.

Following the approval, the PDRRMC will forward its resolution to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) for legislative action during its session scheduled on Friday.

“The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office is directed to develop a scheme for the provision of shelter and other assistance to affected residents, giving priority to those most severely impacted and lacking means to recover,” Ongchuan said in a statement.

The Eastern Samar provincial board on Wednesday also approved a resolution recommending the declaration of a state of calamity in the province following the widespread damage caused by typhoons “Tino” and Uwan.

The declaration was endorsed by the PDRRMC during its meeting presided over by Gov. Ralph Vincent Evardone, after assessing the extent of the destruction left by the two consecutive cyclones.

Initial data showed that 323 houses were totally damaged while 2,529 sustained partial damage. A total of 47,178 families were displaced from their homes.

No casualties were reported in the province, which Evardone attributed to the timely implementation of preemptive and forced evacuations by local government units.

Initial damage estimates reached P9.2 million in agriculture, P29 million in infrastructure, P730,000 in livestock and poultry, and P6.7 million in fisheries.

Evardone said the declaration would hasten the delivery of aid to affected families and allow the province to access disaster funds such as the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund and the Quick Response Fund.

“With the declaration, price control measures on basic necessities and prime commodities will also take effect,” the governor added.

Relief operations for affected families are ongoing with assistance from the provincial government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (PNA)