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MANILA, Philippines — As the official death toll from Typhoon Tino soared to 224, with 135 people still missing, President Marcos said yesterday he was “very, very sorry” for the high number of fatalities.
“We are very, very sorry,” he told reporters after a situation briefing at the Cebu capitol. “We are all sad because our casualty figures are very high.”
He said the government had prepared for a storm surge, but instead faced extreme flooding.
“Most of them were really carried away… by the water, because of the size of the water, because of the speed of the flash flood that was coming.”
The official death toll was provided by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local government reports from affected provinces.
Cebu recorded the highest number of fatalities at 139, followed by Negros Occidental with 53, Negros Oriental with 16, Agusan del Sur with six, Capiz with three and Southern Leyte with two. Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Bohol and Leyte each reported one death.
Cebu also registered the highest number of people missing at 79, followed by Negros Occidental with 55 and Negros Oriental with 17.
More than 90 injuries were also linked to Tino-related incidents.
Search and retrieval operations continue across the provinces, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines deploying K9 units to help locate missing persons.
A total of 2,258,782 people were affected by the typhoon across the Visayas and Mindanao. Of these, 318,703 of them remain in 3,050 evacuation centers.
As of yesterday, more than P11.1 million worth of food and non-food aid had been distributed to 90,507 affected families across the impacted provinces.
Economic impact
In terms of economic losses, Typhoon Tino damaged 9,585 houses in Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and the Caraga Region.
At least 3,260 classrooms and 535 schools nationwide were destroyed, according to the Department of Education.
Meanwhile, more than 3,400 schools in 22 divisions suspended classes, affecting over 1.9 million learners and 80,000 teachers and staff.
A joint task force composed of the DepEd, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other government agencies has been mobilized to hasten school rehabilitation.
Temporary learning spaces will be constructed while damaged buildings are being repaired.
The Department of Agriculture reported P83.78 million in agricultural losses, with 4,263 farmers and 2,842 hectares affected.
To aid affected farmers and fisherfolk, the DA readied P216.39 million worth of rice, corn and high-value crop inputs, along with P1.12 million in animal feeds and supplements for livestock and poultry.
President Marcos visits Cebu
To further assess the situation and coordinate ongoing relief operations, President Marcos conducted an aerial inspection and visited evacuation centers in Cebu yesterday.
During his visit, he ordered the relocation of residents living in no-build zones in areas devastated by the typhoon.
Marcos also announced that the government will provide P10,000 in cash assistance to those whose homes were destroyed and P5,000 to those with minor damaged.
Aside from the President, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian also met with local chief executives of Mandaue City and Cebu City to assess the situation, coordinate relief operations and discuss recovery measures.
The DSWD Field Office 7-Central Visayas is conducting round-the-clock operations to ensure a steady flow of family food packs to affected communities, in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Navy.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment deployed a rapid response team to assist displaced workers and conduct an assessment of affected establishments.
“Beyond the numbers, it is the people who matter – the workers who have lost their livelihoods, the families who are facing unimaginable hardship,” regional director Roy Buenafe said.
Initial data showed that Danao City was among the hardest-hit areas, with 300 affected establishments, followed by Compostela with 130 and Liloan with 65.
International aid
Aside from local agencies, several international organizations and foreign governments have extended their sympathy and offered assistance to communities affected by Typhoon Tino.
The Department of Foreign Affairs expressed yesterday gratitude to countries and international partners for offering humanitarian assistance.
“The Philippines expresses its sincere appreciation to the offers and commitments of humanitarian assistance from the international community,” the agency said in a statement.
Earlier, Timor Leste deployed 120 engineers and firefighters to assist in cleanup and rehabilitation efforts in affected areas, while other countries extended support to the victims of the typhoon. — Bella Cariaso, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rhodina Villanueva, Alden Monzon, Helen Flores, Brix Lelis
