Quezon city: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the declaration of a state of national calamity due to the widespread destruction caused by Typhoon Tino and the anticipated threat of an incoming super typhoon. The decision was made following a situation briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, highlighting the extensive damage already inflicted and the potential for further devastation.
According to Philippines News Agency, the President’s approval came as Typhoon Tino battered Visayas and Mindanao with heavy rains and strong winds, resulting in massive floods and landslides. The calamity has displaced thousands of families and submerged entire towns. The latest government data reports a death toll of 114 due to the typhoon’s effects.
The declaration of a national calamity aims to expedite relief, rehabilitation, and recovery efforts in the affected areas. It facilitates quicker access to calamity funds, enforces price controls on essential commodities, and streamlines the deployment of national government assistance. Meanwhile, a tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility is expected to enter as Typhoon Uwan, potentially becoming a super typhoon and affecting the majority of Luzon.
President Marcos emphasized that the government is actively implementing response operations in the areas hardest hit by Typhoon Tino, while also preparing for Typhoon Uwan’s potential impact on Northern Luzon. National government teams, supported by military and police forces, are deployed to deliver assistance, restore essential services, and clear debris from blocked roads.
The President acknowledged the challenges of balancing resources between ongoing relief efforts in Visayas and preparations for Northern Luzon. He assured that the government would not leave affected areas like Cebu until recovery operations are thoroughly in place. Marcos expressed concern over the high number of casualties and reiterated the government’s commitment to continuous relief operations and preemptive measures for the incoming storm.
