Stunned Cebu counts toll; Palace vows aid

The death toll from typhoon “Tino” climbed to 66 on Wednesday as residents of hardest-hit Cebu province began rummaging through homes and businesses devastated by the worst flooding there in recent memory.

Floodwaters described as unprecedented rushed through towns and cities, sweeping away cars, trucks, even massive shipping containers.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro called the situation “unprecedented.”

Malacañang on Wednesday said assistance will be extended to those who need it whether allies of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or not.

“Even if they are not allies of the President, no matter what their colors are, the President is ready to help anyone as long as the government’s help is needed; no matter whether they are allies, the President will help,” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro.

Tino made its seventh landfall early Wednesday on Batas Island in Taytay, Palawan, while it maintained its strength, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported.

Flood project probe eyed

As “Tino” left devastation in Cebu, which Baricuatro described as “flooded to the max,” Malacañang said the President has ordered a probe into the flood control projects in the province, which were pegged at P26 billion.

“That’s the reason President Marcos Jr. is [ordering an] investigation, because he saw the impact. There were budgets allocated for this, but they didn’t seem to be working. So it’s better if she (Baricuatro) is angry, that’s what President Marcos feels, too,” Castro said.

She urged Baricuatro to share any information she had on any officials who may have benefited from alleged corruption in the flood control projects in her province.

“It’s not just during the time of President Marcos Jr. that we should know about flood control projects because, as it was revealed earlier, our initial data is that 343 flood control projects were completed from 2016 to 2022 in Cebu — from the first, second, third to the seventh districts and the city. This should be looked into because if there were 343 flood control projects, they should have been working. So let’s work together to find those who should be held accountable,” she said.

According to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) data, two of the 343 projects were terminated. Between 2023 and 2025, 55 of 168 flood control projects were still under construction.

President Marcos is expected to visit the province in the coming days to check on the evacuees, including those who were affected by the recent massive earthquake.

Brunt of typhoon

Cebu accounted for 49 of 85 of the total fatalities of the typhoon, Civil Defense Deputy Administrator Rafaelito Alejandro said.

“It was the major cities that got hit, highly urbanized areas,” Alejandro said, adding that 26 people remained missing.

Wire service Agence France-Presse (AFP) spoke on Wednesday to residents as they cleared streets that were flooded the day before.

“The flood here yesterday was really severe,” Reynaldo Vergara, 53, told AFP, adding that everything in his small shop was washed away.

“The river overflowed. That’s where the water came from,” he said.

“Around four or five in the morning, the water was so strong that you couldn’t even step outside... nothing like this has ever happened before. The water was raging,” he added.

In the 24 hours before the typhoon made landfall, the area around Cebu City was deluged with 183 millimeters of rain, well over its 131-millimeter monthly average, weather specialist Charmagne Varilla said.

“We were expecting the winds to be the dangerous part, but the water was what truly put our people at risk,” she told reporters. “The floodwaters were just devastating.”

Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more potent due to human-driven climate change. Warmer oceans allow typhoons to strengthen rapidly, and a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, meaning heavier rainfall.

In total, nearly 400,000 people were pre-emptively moved from the typhoon’s path.

More storms expected

The country is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, routinely striking disaster-prone areas where millions live in poverty.

With “Tino,” the archipelagic country has reached that average, weather specialist Varilla said, adding that “three to five more” storms could be expected by the end of December.

The Philippines was hit by two major storms in September, including super typhoon “Ragasa,” which tore the roofs off buildings on its way to killing 14 people in nearby Taiwan.

In a separate report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said typhoon “Tino” has affected more than 706,000 people across seven regions, with around 348,000 individuals currently staying in evacuation centers as authorities continue to distribute relief aid and assess the full extent of the damage.

AboitizPower helps restore power

Aboitiz Power Corp. (AboitizPower) has deployed electricity restoration teams to areas affected by the severe weather.

Conducted through its regional units, the initiative saw Davao Light and Cotabato Light send personnel and equipment to the franchise area of their sister company, Visayan Electric, to repair damaged power lines.

The Davao Light task force, comprising 10 linemen led by an operations manager, was equipped with two crane trucks. Cotabato Light dispatched 13 linemen and two safety officers, along with two boom trucks, a utility vehicle, and additional tools to support the restoration work.

Visayan Electric, Davao Light and Cotabato Light are distribution utilities under AboitizPower.

Visayan Electric and Davao Light are the country’s second and third-largest distribution utilities, respectively. Visayan Electric serves the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay and Naga, as well as the municipalities of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla and San Fernando in the greater Metro Cebu area.

In El Nido, Palawan, where “Tino” made its last landfall, police personnel cleared uprooted trees and debris along major streets after the cyclone battered the town with strong winds and torrential rain.

Responding officers from the El Nido Municipal Police Station were deployed in heavily affected areas, including Barangays Masagana, Maligaya, Buena Suerte, and Corong-Corong, to restore access and assist stranded residents.