LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) — Residents of Catanduanes started clearing debris caused by Super Typhoon “Pepito” (Man-yi) on Sunday, Nov. 17, demonstrating their resilience in the face of the destruction left by the cyclone. They were thankful no lives were lost when the powerful cyclone slammed into the “Happy Island” late Saturday that week, and swept through the Bicol region overnight.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attributed the zero-casualty record to the residents and local officials.
During his visit to Catanduanes on Tuesday, Nov. 19, President Marcos acknowledged the hard work of disaster responders and local government units for their continuous service.
The President specifically commended Catanduanes for achieving a zero-casualty record during Pepito’s onslaught.
“Dahil dito, ipinahayag ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang kaniyang paghanga at pagsaludo sa mga Catandunganon, na nagpakita ng matibay na paghahanda at pagsunod sa mga abiso ng lokal na pamahalaan,” the office of Gov. Joseph Chua posted on Facebook.
(Because of our zero-casualty record, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. praised the Catandunganons for their effective preparation and adherence to local the government’s instructions.)
On his Facebook page, the President stated: “We’ve assessed the damage caused by Typhoon Pepito, where winds exceeding 300 kph tore through the province. We will stay until every need of our kababayans in Catanduanes is met.”
He continued: “Relief packs, cash assistance and building materials are being distributed to help families restore their lives. To those who have been displaced or are still in evacuation centers, rest assured that support will continue until everyone can return to their homes.”
Emergency responders said no one died in Bicol because local governments were able to organize a prompt evacuation, saving many lives from the typhoon’s wrath, which left seven dead in other parts of Luzon.
Bombarded with warnings of “life-threatening” impact from the powerful storm, families, especially those living in danger zones, abandoned their flimsy houses and took temporary shelter in 2,183 evacuation centers identified by the local governments.
Bicol Regional Police Chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon reported that 189,737 families, comprising 644,435 individuals, sought refuge in the centers, as well as in Capitol buildings, churches, and malls.
Many local governments, including those in Sorsogon province, Naga City, and San Jacinto town on Ticao Island, implemented emergency curfews to keep residents indoors during the typhoon’s onslaught.
Emergency hotlines, travel advisories, and warnings about storm surges, heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides were communicated to villagers through social media, radio, SMS, and word of mouth.
In the days leading up to Pepito’s landfall, the Office of Civil Defense and local disaster risk reduction and management offices mobilized their resources and coordinated with national government agencies.
Various agencies, including the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Army, the Red Cross, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government deployed hundreds of personnel to assist local governments with evacuations and the management of evacuation centers.
In Catanduanes, where Pepito made its first landfall, a comprehensive command plan and all necessary logistical supplies for evacuation were already in place 72 hours before the typhoon hit.
“The officials and people of Bicol have learned their lessons from Kristine,” Isaias Bigol Jr., the disaster risk reduction and management officer for Masbate City, remarked, referring to Tropical Storm Trami, which brought heavy rainfall to the region and resulted in the deaths of 41 individuals last month.
“We even evacuated our animals, pets, and livestock long before Pepito’s landfall,” Bigol added, emphasizing the unprecedented preparation in Bicol.
According to other disaster response officials, emergency curfews significantly contributed to keeping people safe, as most fatalities in previous typhoons occurred outdoors due to fallen trees, collapsing buildings, and flying debris.
Pepito was the strongest of the two major cyclones to hit Southern Luzon in less than a month and had sustained winds of up to 195 kilometers per hour when it rammed Catanduanes on Saturday night, Nov. 16.
The police reported that torrential rains and fierce wind unleashed by Pepito set off a landslide Monday (November 18) in Nueva Vizcaya province that buried a house and killed seven people. (PIA5)
