‘Tino’ leaves 130 dead; probe sought on Cebu flood works
Typhoon “Tino” (international name: Kalmaegi) has once more highlighted the failure of billions of pesos worth of flood control projects as it left hundreds of people dead, many from widespread flooding that trapped people on their roofs and swept away scores of vehicles.
Consolidated reports from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and local governments indicated that the number of confirmed deaths across the Visayas region has climbed to at least 130 as more bodies were recovered in flood and landslide-affected areas.
Cebu, a province still recovering from a deadly earthquake last September, accounted for the highest number of fatalities at 93, after Liloan town alone logged 35 deaths, followed by Compostela with 16 deaths.
Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Danao City reported nine deaths each, Talisay City had seven, Balamban had six and Consolacion had one.
President Marcos was set to visit Cebu to personally oversee the government’s response and has called for a review of the more than 500 flood control projects there.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said the President shared the frustration and anger of Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro over the seeming uselessness of billions worth of flood control projects.
“That’s also the reason why President Marcos ordered an investigation [over flood control projects]. Budgets have been allocated for these, yet they seem to be not functioning at all,” Castro told reporters on Wednesday. “So it’s understandable that if she’s angry, President Marcos feels the same way.”
Terminated, still ongoing
Castro, citing data from the Department of Public Works and Highways, said there were 511 flood control projects in Cebu. Of these, 343 were done during the Duterte administration, with two of the projects terminated, while 168 were under the current administration with 55 still ongoing.
Castro said all flood control projects, including those initiated under Mr. Marcos, should be examined, but more so those completed under the Duterte administration “since they should have been functioning by now.”
As of Wednesday noon, Tino has affected 1,107,819 individuals, or 318,020 families, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported.
It said that of this number, 489,109 were from Western Visayas, 340,573 from Caraga, 171,420 from Eastern Visayas, and 104,619 from Central Visayas. The rest were from Bicol, Mimaropa and Negros.
It added that 428,127 displaced individuals were taking shelter in 4,805 evacuation centers across seven regions, while 149,801 were outside evacuation centers.
Power interruptions
Around 1.4 million households, mostly residing in the Visayas, have experienced power interruptions, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said in a virtual briefing on Wednesday.
The Department of Energy could not determine, as of this writing, when electricity will be restored in the affected areas.
“We’re asking the public, especially those who were badly affected, to please wait until the roads are cleared for our personnel or linemen to restore the power lines,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said.
“But we are assuring you that we are working hard. So we can restore within a few hours,” she added.
Damage assessment
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, meanwhile, ordered all its regional offices and attached agencies to complete its damage assessment of transportation facilities within 48 hours.
In a statement, Lopez said transportation facilities, such as airports, seaports and ferry terminals, must be ready within two days “so that restoration work can begin immediately.”
“We must ensure that our ports and airports are safe, functional, and ready to support ongoing relief operations,” Lopez said.
The Department of Health (DOH), meanwhile, has raised a “code white” alert to ensure that all assigned medical personnel, medical equipment and facilities will be ready to respond to emergencies and incidents.
“The DOH Operations Center is ready to provide medicines, medical equipment, and health emergency response teams for regions affected by the typhoon,” the agency said in a Facebook post. —WITH REPORTS FROM NESTLE SEMILLA-DAKAY, KAYE BRIER, JOEY A. GABIETA, HAZEL P. VILLA, CARLA P. GOMEZ, DEXTER CABALZA, KEITH CLORES, DIANNE SAMPANG, MARY JOY SALCEDO, LISBET K. ESMAEL AND AP
