Northern Samar poll officers asked to check status of typhoon-hit voting centers

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 7 (PNA) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) regional office here has asked election officers in Northern Samar to conduct inventory of typhoon hit-areas to see if classrooms can still be used as voting centers in the May 9, 2016 polls.

Comelec Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros said town election officers are given until January 15 to complete the assessment of school buildings destroyed by typhoon Nona when it ravaged the province last month.

“We expect that there are damages. That is why we asked them to check if these are still usable and if not, we would like to hear their recommendations,” Mendros told PNA.

Northern Samar has 476 schools tagged as voting centers in the past elections.

Possible alternative voting centers are village halls, multi-purpose halls, and covered courts. Churches and privately-owned structures are not considered as alternative voting centers.

“After the assessment, the election officer will come up with a request for transfer of voting precincts,” Mendros added.

The Comelec will also coordinate with the Department of Education to find out if they have capability to fix damaged classrooms before Election Day. (PNA)
FFC/SQM

DSWD denies giving out ‘expired’ relief goods in Northern Samar

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, Jan. 4 (PNA) - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has denied that they are the source of expired relief goods distributed to victims of typhoon "Nona" in this town.

Nida Getalado, DSWD social development team leader for disaster operations in Northern Samar, said their agency have been checking expiration dates of relief goods prior to distribution.

“We always give the best for typhoon victims through regular checking of expiration dates and quality of goods, including those donations coursed through the DSWD before their distribution,’ Getalado said.

“Our office continues to improve storage facility and distribution system of relief goods to ensure food safety,” Getalado added.

However, according to Getalado, there are private organizations who directly distribute goods to recipients or to the local government units, which could be the source of the reported expired goods.

DSWD promised to check the report and make sure that those responsible are held accountable.

The DSWD issued the clarification after residents of Baybay village, this town reported over the weekend that some noodles they received have an expiration dates of May 15, 2015 and Nov. 22, 2015.

Typhoon victims allegedly received these food packs from the DSWD, which consists of rice, noodles, canned goods and coffee.

Despite this issue, Getalado assured the government's commitment to assist typhoon victims.

“We are hoping that by this first week of January, everything will be ready. Relief goods and shelter kits needed will be distributed,” Getalado said.

The Northern Samar provincial government has already provided food packs and tarpaulins to villages, prioritizing families without stable source of income.

The Official death toll from typhoon Nona stood at 12. Casualties are from the towns of Allen, Lope de Vega, Mondragon, Catarman, San Roque and Victoria in Northern Samar.

Data from the PDRRMC showed that 114,200 families in 24 towns in Northern Samar have been displaced by the typhoon. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/JAZMIN BONIFACIO/EGR

Tacloban bizmen group to aid typhoon 'Nona' victims in N. Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 30 (PNA) –- The Federation of Tacloban Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc., (TFCCCI) is set to distribute relief food items to victims of typhoon 'Nona' in several towns of northern Samar on the first week of January 2016.

Jack Uy, TFCCCI president said assistance to the affected towns would be faster because there was no looting of goods and local government unit local chief executives immediately raised funds so that they could release emergency relief assistance to victims.

However, he aired the concern of businessmen on the recent ambush of a convoy that carried the relief goods to the affected areas.

Two weeks ago, a convoy of Philippine Army trucks carrying relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development were ambushed in San Jorge, Northern Samar. A soldier was killed and while two others were wounded.

Uy said the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) will fund the 2,000 bags of relief goods that contain rice, canned goods, noodles, coffee and cookies.

The total cost is PHP400,000. The FFCCCII, the umbrella chamber, through its local chamber-partners have raised funds to support emergency food relief items to affected families in calamity areas.

The chamber initially released 3,000 food relief packs to Northern Samar Rep. Emil Ong for the typhoon victims in his district. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ

Leyte councilors send aid to colleagues in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 29 (PNA) – The extent of devastation brought by typhoon Nona in Northern Samar prompted the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Leyte Chapter to send assistance to their fellow council members in the province.

The initial Php50,000 financial assistance comes from savings they have generated during the Christmas Party last week, said PCL Leyte Chapter President Wilson Uy.

“This is just a small amount, but I hope that this can help their organization,” said Uy, who is also the PCL regional chairman in Eastern Visayas.

Uy added that the officials of PCL in Northern Samar will decide on how they will dispose of the amount since they are more aware of needs.

Extending assistance to their fellow councilors in Northern Samar is a way of appreciating their assistance to councilors in Leyte province affected by super typhoon Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013.

Northern Samar has about 200 councilors from 24 towns serving their current term until June next year. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA

DSWD says no holiday break in aid distribution for ‘Nona’ victims in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 28 (PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has delivered relief goods to typhoon-hit families in four Northern Samar towns over the holidays.

The badly affected towns received rice, canned goods and tarpaulin, the DSWD said in a press statement on Monday.

The DSWD provided 721 sacks of 50 kilograms of rice, 1,001 boxes of canned goods, and 75 rolls of tarpaulin to affected families in Bobon town.

In San Roque town, DSWD also gave out 300 sacks of 50 kilograms rice, and 50 boxes corned beef.

Likewise, in Allen town, some 100 sacks of 50 kilograms of rice, 960 boxes of corned beef, and 50 rolls of tarpaulin were delivered while Lope de Vega was given 412 sacks of 50 kg of rice and 859 of boxes of corned beef.

DSWD disaster teams in the region are also continuously repacking goods and doing relief operations over the holidays.

As of December 27, a total of 1,447 families or 6,508 persons are still inside 97 evacuation centers managed by local government units in the affected areas in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions. (PNA)
FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

DSWD distributes 12,303 bags of rice to typhoon-hit Region 8 provinces

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 21 (PNA) -- Within a week after typhoon “Nona” pummeled Samar Island, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already distributed 12,303 bags of rice to victims.

Of the number, 8,481 bags are 25 kilograms and 3,822 bags are 50 kilograms. This is on top of the 1,275 family food packs delivered to Northern Samar province, said DSWD regional information officer Vina Aquino.

Other relief goods distributed in the past seven days are 650 boxes of sardines, 1,710 boxes of corned beef, 490 boxes of nutridel (for child feeding), five boxes of coffee, and five boxes of instant noodles.

“Local government units (LGUs) have been distributing relief goods as well. Our role is to augment the exhausted resources of LGUs,” Aquino told PNA.

In a statement, DSWD Regional Director Nestor Ramos said bringing relief goods to island towns of Biri, Capul, San Vicente, and San Antonio has been challenging.

“Relief distributions in these areas are being hampered due to unfavorable weather condition. The relief goods are being brought there through the military helicopter,” Ramos said.

Based on the DSWD’s Monday afternoon report, the typhoon has flattened 117,788 houses in three Samar provinces, with 39,006 classified as totally wrecked and 78,782 partially damaged.

Under the shelter assistance, the DSWD has shipped 3,600 galvanized iron sheets and 960 tarpaulins to Northern Samar.

These will be allocated and delivered to affected areas while waiting for other batches of shelter repair kits, according to Aquino.

Number of affected population in Eastern Visayas rose to 644,324 with 602,586 in Northern Samar; 23,554 in Eastern Samar; 16,569 in Samar; and 1,615 in Biliran.

Affected LGUs are encouraged to draft comprehensive rehabilitation plan, outlining the kind of assistance they need from the national government. (PNA)
FFC/Sarwell Q. Meniano

'Nona' death toll in Samar provinces climbs to 12

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 21 (PNA) –- The death toll in Samar provinces has climbed to 12 one week after typhoon "Nona's" devastation, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reported on Monday.

Casualties have been reported in the towns of Allen, Lope de Vega, Mondragon, Catarman, San Roque, and Victoria in northern Samar and Matuguinao, Samar.

Of the 12 victims, four have died due to drowning, two due to hypothermia, two due to injuries, two due to trauma, one due to electrocution, and one due to loss of consciousness.

Nearly 900 persons in three Samar provinces were reportedly injured. At least 15 of them have been admitted in hospitals.

Typhoon "Nona’s" fierce winds has destroyed 94,857 houses in Samar island, with 14,439 categorized as totally wrecked and 80,418 are partially damaged.

The weather disturbance has affected 544,805 persons with 33,248 still in evacuation centers.

The agriculture and fishery sectors have suffered PHP129.64 million production loss, according to estimates of the Department of Agriculture.

The RDRRMC have deployed teams last week in different northern Samar towns to conduct rapid damage assessment and needs analysis.

National government agencies have set up operation centers in the badly-hit province to facilitate the delivery of assistance in communities pummelled by typhoon Nona last week. (PNA)
JMC/Sarwell Q. Meniano

NGCP partly restores power in typhoon-hit N. Samar

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Dec. 21 (PNA) – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has re-energized on Saturday some transmission line sections in northern Samar following completion of repairs damaged by typhoon "Nona".

The NGCP is targeting to fully restore its transmission services to the typhoon-ravaged province before the year ends.

In its 5:31 p.m. advisory issued on Saturday, NGCP said that they are able to re-energize the 69 kilo Volts (kV) Palanas-Cara-Catarman and Bobon-Catarman sections.

“The line will transmit power to the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative’s (Norsamelco) Bobon station once this facility is ready,” the NGCP said.

NGCP Communication Officer for Visayas, Betty Rosette Martinez, in an interview said that at least 109 poles were toppled, 111 were left leaning, when typhoon "Nona" ravaged northern Samar.

The Catarman–Bobolosan line section sustained was heavily affected wherein 74 poles toppled and 78 poles leaning.

Martinez said that NGCP is doing all means to ready the power highway before Norsamelco finished the rehabilitation activities of their distribution lines.

According to the latest report from NDRRMC, power has been restored in the province except in the municipalities of Catubig, Gamay, Lao-ang, Pambujan, Palapag, Las Navas, Biri, Capul, San Antonio, San Vicente, Lapinig and Silvino Lobos.

In the meantime, NGCP asked the support and cooperation of the public, particularly private landowners in their restoration and rehabilitation activities. Martinez said that during such activities NGCP linemen need to enter or pass private properties.

“We would like to seek support and cooperation of private lot owners to allow our linemen enter or pass privately owned lots and do their work,” Martinez said.

“NGCP’s main objective is to restore our lines as early as possible, we just hope that there will be no strong resistance from land owners like what we experienced on our restoration activities during the past typhoons. What our linemen are doing is for them,” she explained.

Martinez, likewise appealed to village officials to help in securing NGCP’s men who are doing the restoration activities because they are troubleshooters in the occurrence of power service problem. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/Jennifer S. Allegado/egr

DA initially places 'Nona' damage in E. Visayas at PHP92.57M

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PNA) – The farming sector in eastern Visayas suffered PHP92.57 million production losses due to typhoon "Nona", the Department of Agriculture regional office here reported.

Of the total, PHP3.57 million losses were recorded in Biliran province, PHP5.47 million in Samar, PHP29.99 million in Eastern Samar, PHP53.51 million in Northern Samar. The typhoon has affected 3,642 farmers in four provinces.

Rice farmers bore the brunt of Nona’s wrath suffering PHP52 million losses, based on initial estimates. Another badly affected commodity is banana with PHP16.39 output losses.

Other crops that sustained damages are cassava (PHP4.36 million), vegetables (PHP2.04 million), corn (PHP22,791), root crops (PHP10,938), fruit trees (PHP166,470). Fishery and livestock sectors suffered PHP4.15 million and PHP13.4 million losses, respectively.

The typhoon directly affected 2,679 hectares of farms. For rice alone, harvest losses are pegged at 3,060 metric tons.

“We are committed to assist farmers. The DA regional field offices have prepositioned seed stocks to cope up with damages wrought by calamities so that our farmers could easily recover their losses at the shortest possible time,” said DA Regional Executive Director Leo Cañeda.

The DA reminded affected farmers to get proper certifications from their respective local agriculture offices in order for them to avail of the free seeds. (PNA)
JMC/Sarwell Q. Meniano

'Yolanda' survivors rush to aid 'Nona' victims

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PNA) –- Donations are now pouring in for victims of typhoon "Nona" in northern Samar as different organizations, government agencies and private groups are stepping up efforts to extend their helping hands.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes spearheaded a call for “bayanihan” as they leave on Thursday for Allen and Catarman towns in Northern Samar. She called on friends, colleagues and industry partners to donate for the distribution of Christmas packs.

The activity will be done along with DOT’s post-disaster assessment.

The Christmas packs, according to Tiopes, will include gift pack for kids with schools bags, learning supplies and goodies. Family packs with basic home items, which are not usually given during relief operations will be given to victims as well.

With the successful drive, Tiopes thanked donors for the “care and concern” given to the people in typhoon-ravaged province.

The group behind The Tacloban for Northern Samar Relief Operations also made the Rotary Club office as their drop off points for medicines, food, water and clothing.

Transport of relief goods is being coordinated by Tzu Chi Foundation and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Members of Tingog Sinirangan headed by Jude Acidre and the district office staff of Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez also started packing relief goods to be distributed to the victims of typhoon "Nona" in the northern part of the region.

It was learned from Acidre that on Dec. 15, two-first responder teams were quickly dispatched to distribute food items and conduct a rapid ground assessment in Northern Samar.

More people from Tacloban City are using social media networking sites in requesting help for the victims of typhoon, using the "Yolanda" experience as basis to share their blessings especially that Christmas is near.

Tacloban City Councilor Jerry Uy is also sending relief goods to Northern Samar soon.

Uy is personally supervising his staff in packing relief goods, composed of rice, noodles and canned goods.

“I also appeal to Tacloban residents is to help the people of Northern Samar since we are the ones who really know how it feels to be victims of calamity. It’s payback time,” Uy said.

The official recalled that people in Northern Samar, through their provincial government headed by Gov. Jose Ong, was one of the first to send help to Tacloban after supertyphoon "Yolanda" struck in 2013. (PNA)
JMC/SQM/Lizbeth Ann A. Abella/egr

‘Nona’ destroys 65,000 houses in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 17 (PNA) - Typhoon “Nona” destroyed nearly 65,000 houses in Northern Samar when it unleashed its wrath early this week, the Regional Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) said in its initial report issued on Thursday.

Of the 64,972 damaged houses, 58,227 are partially destroyed and 6,745 were totally wrecked. These are located in 23 towns of Northern Samar, including Catarman, the provincial capital. Authorities have not yet received damage reports from the interior town of Silvino Lobos.

Towns with reports on damaged houses are Allen (3,106), Biri (938), Bobon (4,018), Capul (1,102), Catarman (15,119), Catubig (4,562), Gamay (4,608), Lavezares (4,371), Las Navas (6,635), Lapinig (2,440), Laoang (6,224), Lope de Vega (1,908).

Mapanas (1,958), Mondragon (6,647), Palapag (6,373), Pambujan (4,431), San Jose (795), Rosario (2,376), San Antonio (1,466), San Isidro (1,758), San Roque (2,287), San Vicente (708), and Victoria (938).

Northern Samar, with a population of 589,013 as of 2010, experienced the first landfall of typhoon Nona at noon on Monday, forcing the evacuation of about 10,000 people, according to RDRRMC.

The entire province is still experiencing power outages due to damages of the Catarman-Bobolosan 69-kilo Volts (kV) line, Palanas-Cara-Catarman-Allen 69-kV line, and Allen-Ormoc HVDC 350kV line.

The Office of the Civil Defense has been stepping up coordination with affected local government units through the RDRRMC management emergency center in this city. (PNA)
LAP/Sarwell Q. Meniano

Northern Samar under state of calamity

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 17 (PNA) – The extent of damage caused by typhoon Nona prompted the provincial government of Northern Samar to place the entire province under state of calamity.

The provincial board passed a resolution on Tuesday declaring a state of calamity. Provincial legislators made the declaration one day after the powerful typhoon made its first landfall in Batag Island, Laoang, Northern Samar.

The declaration will aid the mobilization of resources, ensure price control for basic necessities, granting of no interest loans, and appropriation of calamity funds.

Typhoon Nona has killed at least three persons and injured 147 persons in the province, according to Thursday noon report of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)

The typhoon has destroyed 65,000 houses in 23 towns. Nearly 10,000 persons remained in evacuation centers three days after the typhoon rendered them homeless.

Initial estimate showed that damage to agriculture has reached PHP53.51 million, directly affecting 3,114 farmers.

Republic Act 10121 known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010,” defines a State of Calamity as “a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard.” (PNA)
FFC/SQM

2,349 Northern Samar families remain in evacuation centers

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 17 (PNA) – More than 2,000 families in Northern Samar remained in evacuation centers on Thursday after typhoon Nona’s violent winds rendered them homeless, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported.

“There are still some 2,349 families of 9,371 individuals temporarily staying at 28 evacuation centers of Northern Samar province. The DSWD’s Disaster Response Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) also bared some 80,405 houses from same province which were partially damaged,” said Vina Aquino, DSWD regional information officer in her update of the agency’s response.

A total of 7,414 houses were flattened by typhoon Nona in Northern Samar, according to the DSWD regional office.

“As of this reporting, the DROMIC reveals that reports coming in from the DSWD’s Social Welfare and Development Team (SWADT) of Northern Samar are a little delayed for the reason that communication lines are cut off yet. Also, power connection is still down,” Aquino added.

In Eastern Samar, DSWD reported about 1,000 partially damaged houses, while in Samar there were five totally and nine partially destroyed houses.

“However, the DROMIC said that the number of damaged houses is expected to increase considerably in the succeeding report,” Aquino said.

According to Aquino, their personnel on the ground have coordinated with the affected local government units “in gathering validated data as to the number of damaged houses.”

Resty Macuto, DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations, is leading the agency’s team in Northern Samar.

Earlier before Nona’s landfall, the DSWD said its field workers in six province in Eastern Visayas were “closely keeping in touch with local governments on their readiness against typhoon Nona.”

“I have already instructed for some 2,000 bags of rice to be delivered today to the three Samar provinces,“ said DSWD Nestor Ramos in an earlier statement, adding that “military trucks have been coordinated with the Office of Civil Defense for the transport of the commodities.”

In the same statement, Ramos has assured Secretary Corazon Soliman of “enough standby commodities and fund amounting to over PHP3 million.”

“Repacking of family food packs are ongoing, with 32 workers hired, via the ‘food-for-work’ scheme, for the purpose,” the DSWD said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council has said that eight people were confirmed dead while 12 others were injured around the country due to typhoon Nona. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/Ronald O. Reyes

DPWH says all Northern Samar nat’l roads now passable after ‘Nona’

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 16 (PNA) – All national road networks in typhoon-ravaged Northern Samar province are now passable, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Wednesday.

DPWH regional information officer Antonieta Lim said that the two Northern Samar district engineering offices managed to clear the primary and secondary highway from toppled trees, electric posts, and landslide debris on Wednesday morning.

“All road networks are now passable to all types of vehicles, but the extent of damage is still subject to assessment of maintenance engineers,” Lim said.

The DPWH earlier reported that typhoon Nona’s impact has rendered some road sections in Northern Samar impassable.

These are roads linking the towns of Mapanas to Palapag Road, Allen to Catarman, and Lope De Vega to Catarman.

Lim said that nearby DPWH field offices within the typhoon’s path in Samar and Eastern Samar provinces have no reported typhoon-related damages to roads and bridges.

The entire Northern Samar province has been suffering power outages since Monday morning due to damaged transmission lines and electric posts, according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. (PNA)
FFC/SQM

Typhoon’s death toll climbs to 4 in Samar provinces

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 15 (PNA) – Typhoon Nona has killed at least four people in Samar and Northern Samar provinces when it battered the region on Monday, the Regional Disaster and Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) reported.

Authorities confirmed that the typhoon’s violent winds and heavy downpour claimed the lives of the four.

The first identified casualty is Pascual Ancente, Jr., 31, of Allen, Northern Samar. The victim died due to multiple wounds and head trauma when a galvanized iron sheet hit him.

The second casualty is Tessie Villaneuva Baladad, 38, of Caguingay village, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar. She drowned in Catarman, the provincial capital.

Another casualty is Abundio Bello, 83, of San Jose village, Lope de Vega town. The old man collapsed while heading to the evacuation center. In the remote village of Maduroto, Matuguinao, Samar, flooding drowned Jason Blesario, 28.

Two teams from the Department of Health have been going around Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar provinces to check on deaths and injuries among the townsfolk.

The RDRRMC has yet to receive reports on the number of persons injured during the onslaught of typhoon Nona.

The weather disturbance has displaced nearly 8,000 families or 30,851 persons in the three Samar provinces. More than 20,000 remained in evacuation centers on Tuesday.

People remained in evacuation centers in Basey, Gandara, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Sta. Margarita, and Villareal in Samar; Arteche, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpo in Eastern Samar; Biri, Catarman, Catubig, Laoang, Lapinig, Lope de Vega, Rosario, San Antonio, and San Jose in Northern Samar.

Widespread brownout hit Northern Samar and Eastern Samar as the typhoon damaged power transmission lines and electric posts. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

DSWD sends food packs for typhoon 'Nona' victims in Samar provinces

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 15 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is bringing more food packs to assist victims of typhoon “Nona” in Samar provinces.

In a report to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the DSWD said a winged van arrived in Northern Samar Tuesday morning, containing 200 bags of rice and canned goods.

Also on Tuesday, 400 bags of rice were delivered to Oras and Arteche town in Eastern Samar.

Up for delivery are 2,000 sacks of staple food to Catarman town, the provincial capital and 200 sacks for shipment to San Policarpio town in Eastern Samar.

The RDRRMC said the typhoon has displaced more than 5,000 families when it unleashed its wrath in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar on Monday.

Badly affected areas (based on the number of evacuees) are Biri, Catarman, Catubig, Laoang, Lapinig, Rosario, and San Jose in Northern Samar; Almagro, Panabacadao, Catbalogan City, and Sta. Margarita in Samar; San Policarpio, Oras and Arteche in Eastern Samar.

Local disaster risk reduction and management councils have yet to report the extent of typhoon Nona’s damage. (PNA)
JBP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

‘Nona’ kills man, leaves trail of destruction in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 15 (PNA) – Typhoon Nona left Northern Samar with at least one dead, after it unleashed its wrath on Monday that caused widespread power outages and communication network paralysis.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) identified the casualty as Pascual Ancente Jr., 31, of Allen Northern Samar. The victim died due to multiple wounds and head trauma when a galvanized iron sheet hit him.

The typhoon has displaced more than 5,000 in Northern Samar where typhoon Nona made its first landfall in Laoang town Monday noon.

At least 2,171 have been stranded in various ports in Northern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte as the state weather bureau raise typhoon warning signals in these provinces.

The government is struggling to assess the extent of damage of typhoon Nona in Northern Samar due to power interruptions and absence of mobile phone signals.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said that some transmission lines in the province have experienced tripping as early as 9:26 a.m. on Monday.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Edgar L. Posadas described the impact as “not good” in his text message during an ocular inspection Tuesday morning.

The typhoon left trails of destruction in the province, toppling several trees, destroying some houses, and rendering some sections of national roads impassable, according to the official.

“We are still gathering data on the impact of Nona in Northern Samar. Local disaster risk reduction and management council officials could not be reached via mobile phone, landline and email,” Posadas said.

Citing initial reports from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), road sections along Mapanas to Palapag and Allen to the provincial capital of Catarman have been impassable since Monday night.

On Tuesday morning, the DPWH cleared the Lope De Vega-Catarman road sections, making the province accessible from Calbayog City in Samar. (PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Samar fishermen survive from capsized boat incident

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Dec. 15 (PNA) – A father and his son-in-law survived a sea tragedy when typhoon “Nona” ravaged Samar Island on Monday.

Rogelio Galecio, 45 and Japeth Picorro, 22, both residents of Bacjao village Almagro, Samar, ventured to sea despite typhoon threats. Almagro is around three hours boat travel from this city.

In an interview, Galecio said that they left Calbayog around 8:30 a.m. on Monday aboard a motorized banca. Samar was already under public storm warning signal no. 3 when they left, but they just ignored the advisory because the weather was normal, according to Galecio.

But when they get to the middle of the sea, they were met by big and rough waves and strong winds that turned their boat upside down. Galecio said the big waves and strong sea current separated them.

“I was at sea floating for almost 12 hours, I used a plastic container as my lifesaving device and tried my best to swim and survive. It was already around 9:30 in the evening on Monday when I reached the seashore of Rawis village in Calbayog City,” Galecio recalled.

Galicio sustained minor injuries and now confined at the Calbayog General Hospital.

Meanwhile, his son-in-law Japeth Picorro, who was first declared missing, was seen floating and tied to the capsized boat around 10 a.m. Tuesday near the shoreline of Tomaligues village, Tinambacan District Calbayog.

Japeth was also brought to the hospital for check-up but was not confined.

Meanwhile, Samar provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer Van Torrevillas said that no reported casualty or major damage in the entire province due to “Nona.”

Power for the entire first district of Samar was normally restored noontime Tuesday. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and Samar Electric Cooperative said that power lines were not heavily affected by the typhoon. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/JENNIFER SUMAGANG – ALLEGADO

Pre-emptive evacuation ordered in Eastern Visayas due to ‘Nona’

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has asked local government units in Eastern Visayas to order pre-emptive evacuation in coastal areas as typhoon Nona made its landfall in Northern Samar on Monday.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Edgar L. Posadas, RDRRMC chairperson encouraged local authorities to enforce mandatory evacuation if needed.

“The typhoon’s 150 kilometers per hour sustained winds and 185 kilometers per hour gustiness is strong. It becomes more violent,” Posadas told PNA.

“We want to call both authorities and the public to listen to advisories and be vigilant. It is a joint responsibility of the people and government to ensure everyone’s safety.”

The RDRRMC warned on the possibility of up to two meters storm surges in areas near the center of the typhoon.

With typhoon Nona moving west at only 17 kilometers per hour, it is expected to dump heavy rains in the region in the next two days, according to Posadas.

The official is confident that local government units are more prepared now after learning the lessons of super typhoon Yolanda on Nov. 8, 2013.

“They are prepared. Indeed, they have been regularly reporting what they have been doing even before public storm warning signals were raised in their areas,” the OCD chief.

RDRRMC members have convened on Sunday to discuss preparedness measures and assess available resources that would be extended to local government units (LGUs).

“Aside from prepositioning of foods, no other assistance has been asked by LGUs from the national government,” Posadas added.

Classes in all levels have been suspended in the provinces of Northern Samar, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar, and some part of Leyte and Southern Leyte.

As of 1 p.m., the typhoon was located in the vicinity of Catarman, Northern Samar, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s social media account.

As on Monday afternoon, Eastern Visayas provinces that were placed under public storm warning signal 3 were Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and Eastern Samar. Leyte and Southern Leyte were placed under storm warning signals 2 and 1, respectively. (PNA)
SARWELL Q. MENIANO

‘Nona’ strands 2,054 passengers in Eastern Visayas; more LGUs suspend classes

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) – More than 2,000 passengers have been stranded in Eastern Visayas seaports on Monday as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) halted sea travel due to typhoon Nona.

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) reported Monday noon that 2,054 passengers on board in 203 buses, truck and light cars have been stuck in ports in the provinces of Northern Samar, Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte due to cancellation of 15 trips of roll-on roll-off vessels.

About 1,234 passengers are in Allen, Northern Samar, the region’s exit point to Luzon, according to OCD Regional Director Edgar L. Posadas. Affected passengers in Leyte are all heading to Cebu.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development was urged to distribute food packs to affected passengers, who have been in ports since Sunday.

In its noontime report, the OCD said there were no reported casualties and missing persons in six provinces of the region.  

The weather disturbance has placed Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Samar under public warning storm signal number 3. Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces were under storm warning signal number 2 and 1, respectively.

CLASS SUSPENSION

More local government units declared class suspension on Monday morning to ensure safety of learners as typhoon made its landfall in Northern Samar.

As early as Sunday afternoon, Northern Samar Govenor Jose Ong suspended classes in all levels as well as work in all government offices except those involved directly involved in disaster risk reduction and management.

In Catbalogan City, Samar, Mayor  Stephany Uy  Tan announced on Sunday afternoon the suspension of classes in the elementary and secondary.

In Calbayog City, Mayor Ronald Aquino issued an order for the suspension of classes in all levels both public and private schools.

 Classes has been suspended in all levels in Biliran. The province, along with Northern Samar, Samar and Eastern Samar.

 The state weather bureau has raised public storm warning signal no. 2 in Leyte, prompting the provincial government to declare suspension of classes in elementary and secondary levels, said Department of Education Leyte division superintendent Ronilo Al Firmo.

 In Tacloban City, Mayor Alfred Romualdez suspended classes in all levels.

The suspension of classes is aimed at affording all residents in affected areas to prepare for the forthcoming storm and its consequences. (PNA)

 Sarwell Q. Meniano and Lizbeth Ann A. Abella