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Alexis Romero - The Philippine Star
February 9, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Nearly P4.4 billion has been allocated for relief operations in the wake of Tropical Storm Basyang, as the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) gave assurance that aid is being provided in affected areas, the agency announced on Saturday, citing the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Meanwhile, the number of families affected by Basyang in the Visayas and Mindanao has reached 132,000, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said yesterday.
In a Facebook post, the PCO said the P4,397,068,881.14 budget
is divided into P700,636,041.04 quick response fund and P3,696,432,840.10 food and non-food items.
It added that ready-to-eat food boxes intended for storm-hit communities have already arrived in Iligan City.
In a recent statement, the DSWD said it had prepositioned 3.5 million food packs across the country and that it has more than sufficient relief items to augment the needs of affected local governments.
The agency has provided more than 9,800 food packs and more than 1,300 ready-to-eat food boxes to affected families in Northern Mindanao and Caraga as of last Friday.
The total cost of DSWD humanitarian assistance stood at P55.81 million as of yesterday morning.
Aftermath
According to OCD spokesman Junie Castillo, the number of affected families is equivalent to 467,000 persons from 850 barangays in Visayas and Mindanao.
On Saturday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the reported casualties due to drowning or landslides climbed to 12.
“Our casualties, which is saddening, have so far reached 12, and all of these reports are for verification and validation,” Castillo said in an interview with radio dzBB.
The OCD said 445 houses were damaged, of which 38 are totally damaged while 407 are partially damaged.
Castillo said the report on estimated damage on infrastructure and agriculture is still being consolidated.
PNP assessment
The Philippine National Police is conducting an assessment of affected police facilities and personnel following Basyang’s onslaught.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed unit commanders in affected areas to report the status of their stations and the condition of uniformed and non-uniformed personnel so the national headquarters can extend immediate assistance.
“This will ensure effective supervision of post-disaster relief and rehabilitation operations,” he said.
Initial reports showed communication lines and supply chains in affected police regional offices remain operational.
The PNP has been fully mobilized to assist in search, rescue and relief operations and to support local government units in disaster response, particularly for residents staying in evacuation centers, Nartatez added.
Northeast Monsoon
Currently, the northeast monsoon is affecting most parts of Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
Based on PAGASA’s bulletin yesterday, Cagayan Valley, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Aurora, Rizal and Laguna will have cloudy skies with rains due to the northeast monsoon with possible flash floods or landslides.
Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the rest of Calabarzon will have cloudy skies with light rains.
Meanwhile, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Quezon, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms caused by a shear line. PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains.
No low pressure areas or tropical cyclone formation are being monitored. – Pia Lee-Brago, Mark Ernest Villeza, Josiah Antonio
