Philippines concerned citizens reach out to typhoon victims, disaster responders on their feet

In Oriental Mindoro Island province, concerned citizens like members of the Rotary Club served hot meals five days ago to stranded passengers when boat trips were canceled due to severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami)

The local church has joined the national appeal for a second collection during Holy Mass to help typhoon victims across the country. 

Calapan’s Sto. Niño Cathedral has circulated the Oratio Imperata, a prayer for deliverance from calamities, on social media as the community seeks protection during the storm.

Disaster responders, while work and classes were suspended for some days, continued to report to work to deliver services.

The Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) in Oriental Mindoro, in its latest report dated October 27, said the province incurred P222,636,987.23 losses in agriculture from the impact of Typhoon Kristine, while damages were estimated at P658,000.

“Losses and damages amount to P223,294,987.23 but we are still awaiting another report on damages from some local government units,” said Vinscent Gahol, head of PDRRMO in an emailed interview on Tuesday, Oct.  29.

Acting Governor Roland Ruga, in an email exchange, said the province has passed Resolution No. 7276-2024, declaring a state of calamity in eight towns: Puerto Galera, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro, Pola, Pinamalayan, Mansalay, and Bulalacao. 

The province suffered from typhoon Kristine as early as October 22. On Oct.  25, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan received Ruga's recommendation to declare a state of calamity in the entire province based on PDRRMO's initial report of damages and losses.

One hundred twenty-eight (128) villages in eight towns were affected, said the report.

“On Oct. 25, 11 a.m., the partial and progressing consolidated damage reports from various coordinating agencies revealed that said weather disturbance adversely affected at least 8,248 families or 34,769 individuals,” said the resolution. 

It added: “Latest assessment of damage and losses to the agricultural sector in Calapan and towns of Pinamalayan, Baco, Bulalacao, Victoria, Mansalay, Pola, San Teodoro, Naujan, and Socorro amounts to 135,724.401.54.”

The average yield loss per agricultural commodity in reported affected areas was estimated at 50.85% for rice, 31.66% for corn, and 67.24% for high value crops.