The number of fatalities from the havoc wreaked by tropical storm "Paeng" has risen to 98 with more than half coming from Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte which the Philippine Coast Guard referred to as "ground zero."
Three days after "Paeng" triggered a series of flash floods and landslides, the municipality remains covered in mud. A PCG video showed workers wading through thick, thigh-high mud and water, and using long pieces of timber in the search for more bodies.
On Saturday, 20 bodies were recovered with the number expected to rise with the national disaster agency recording 63 people still missing and scores of others injured.
"We have shifted our operation from search and rescue to retrieval because the chances of survival after two days are almost nil," said Naguib Sinarimbo, civil defense chief of the Bangsamoro region in Mindanao.
The PCG aided the Philippine National Police and the local national disaster agency to locate five more missing residents during retrieval operations.
Barangay Kusiong, the hardest hit, was buried by a massive landslide, which created a huge mound of debris, just below several picturesque mountain peaks.
"There was a landslide in one of our famous tourist spots in Mount Minandar. That was unexpected," barangay chairman Jaffer Sheen Sinsuat said in a television report.
The mountain had served as a relocation area for Maguindanaoans during the 1976 tsunami that took place after an 8.1 magnitude quake generated from the Cotabato trench.
At least 20 died in the barangay alone with five missing — four infants and an elderly woman.
Marcos tours hard-hit areas
On Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. began touring some of the hard-hit areas, including Noveleta, as aid agencies rushed food packs, drinking water, and other relief to victims.
Marcos said preemptive evacuations in Noveleta had saved lives.
"While the calamity was huge, the number of casualties was not that high, although there's a lot of damage to infrastructure," he said.
This was in stark contrast to his disappointment over the situation in Maguindanao during a command conference last Saturday.
"I'm a little bit concerned about why the situation in Maguindanao was so bad; let's study it further, Sec. Solidum, and we'll find what we can do so we can make the forecast more accurate, especially in flooding because that seems to be the problem now," said Marcos, referring to Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
"We could have done better in Maguindanao in terms of preparing because… the 40 deaths with 10 people missing are a little too high. We should have done better than that," he added.
Survivors clean homes
Meanwhile, survivors faced the heartbreaking task of cleaning up their sodden homes. Residents shoveled mud from their houses and shops after piling their furniture and other belongings on the streets of Noveleta, Cavite.
"In my entire life living here, it's the first time we experienced this kind of flooding," said Joselito Ilano, 55, whose house was flooded by waist-high water.
"I am used to flooding here but this is just the worst, I was caught by surprise," said PerfidiaSeguendia, 71, who lost all their belongings except the clothes she and her family were wearing when they fled to their neighbor's two-story house.
"Everything was flooded — our fridge, washing machine, motorcycle, TV, everything," Seguendia told AFP. "All we managed to do was to cry because we can't really do anything about it. We weren't able to save anything, just our lives."
More rains on the way
Scientists have warned that deadly and destructive storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer because of climate change.
The state weather forecaster warned that another tropical storm was heading towards the Philippines even as "Paeng" moved across the South China Sea.
Starting Wednesday, the new weather system could bring more heavy rains and misery to southern and central regions badly affected by "Nalgae."
Landslides and flash floods originating from largely deforested mountainsides have been among the deadliest hazards posed by storms in the Philippines in recent years.
DSWD readies P1.49B
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said Monday that more than P1.49 billion worth of standby and stockpile funds are ready for the department's disaster response operations.
The department said P23,356,611 had been provided to affected families, including P22,307,535.81 from its funds.
The DSWD added that as part of its continuing relief efforts, the National Resource Operations Center, its main warehouse, is set to augment a total of 29,400 family food packs to DSWD field offices.
DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo met with regional directors to ensure the swift delivery of food packs in line with Marcos' directive that food assistance must be given to affected residents within one day.
The department also urged affected citizens to get in touch with their respective local executives to ensure their safety at all times.
The DSWD is also calling for volunteers to assist the agency's quick response teams in repacking relief goods.
380 stranded passengers
Meanwhile, the PCG reported that a total of 380 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers are still stranded in the ports of Albay and Palawan.
It added that eight rolling cargoes, four vessels, and two motor bancas are also stuck, as well as 19 vessels and 56 motor bancas taking shelter.
On the other hand, PCG Western Visayas joined the Department of Social Welfare and Development in repacking relief goods for storm victims in the region.
As ship travel resumed in most areas, the PCG deployed 2,296 personnel who inspected 129 vessels and 331 motor bancas. They also monitored 32,450 outbound passengers and 20,854 inbound passengers in all ports and waterways across the country.
With AFP report
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