President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday approved the declaration of a state of national calamity following the widespread devastation caused by Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) and in anticipation of the possible onslaught of Typhoon Uwan, which could intensify into a super typhoon in the coming days.

“Because of the scope of, shall we say, problem areas na – that were – that will be hit – that has been hit by Tino and will be hit by Uwan, there was a proposal from the NDRRMC, which I approved, that we will declare a national calamity because iilang regions na ‘yan eh. And that – there will be almost 10 regions – 10, 12 regions that will be affected,” Marcos told reporters in a chance interview at the Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. 

Earlier in the day, Marcos led a situation briefing with Cabinet officials to assess the effects of Typhoon Tino and discuss preparedness measures for the approaching storm.

“Mabigat talaga ang pagkatama sa Cebu, actually Region 6, 7, 8, Mimaropa, umabbot sa Negros Island Region kasi tumawid ang Tino and the damage is heavy. We are doing the usual relief and support activities para lahat nung mag na-displace, lahat nung naging nabiktima ay matutulungan ng pamahalaan,” Marcos said. 

The President also noted that 10 to 12 regions have either been affected or are expected to be impacted by the two weather disturbances.

The only problem is that—napalakas ng Tino. Unfortunately mayroon tayong inaabang na parading na may potensyal na making man Malakai pa—na napangalanan na Uwan. So we are also preparing for that,” Marcos added. 

Typhoon Tino unleashed torrential rains and powerful winds across parts of Visayas and Mindanao, triggering massive flooding, landslides, and power outages. 

Entire towns were submerged, and thousands of families were forced to flee their homes.

Marcos lamented that most government response teams are currently deployed in the Visayas for Typhoon Tino relief efforts, noting the need to reassign some personnel to prepare for the expected arrival of Super Typhoon Uwan.

“Ang pinakamalaking problema na nakita nating is that—yung lahat ng personnel natin ay nadoon ngayon sa Visayas para asikasuhin ang relief and support ng pamahalaan doon. At kailangan na natin pag isipan kung ilan, kung sino doon ang pwede nang dalhin para paghandaan na ‘yung paginating ng Uwan,” Marcos said. 

According to the latest government data, 114 people have died as a result of the typhoon’s impact, while damage assessments and the validation of missing persons are still underway.

The declaration of a national calamity allows the government to fast-track relief and rehabilitation efforts, access calamity funds, impose price controls on basic goods, and mobilize national resources more efficiently across affected areas.

Bracing for Typhoon Uwan

Marcos said the government is now turning its attention to the looming threat of Typhoon Uwan, a tropical depression currently outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). The storm is forecast to enter PAR this weekend and make landfall in Cagayan early next week, potentially as a super typhoon.

“We will already be feeling the effects, ‘yung ulan and some winds na siguro by Sunday morning. Kaya’t ‘yun ang ating binabalanse, syempre hindi namin iiwanan ang Cebu hanggang sa lahat ay in place na, but we will do as much as we can to anticipate well and prepare para marami tayong magagawa para medyo mabawasan ang effect,” Marcos said. 

“Unfortunately, the casualty count is little – is very high. Madami tayong deaths na – that we have suffered.”

Marcos said that national agencies, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are working together to sustain ongoing rescue and relief operations while ramping up preemptive measures in Luzon.

Government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), have begun pre-positioning relief goods and mobilizing response teams in high-risk areas ahead of Uwan’s expected arrival.

The President assured the public that response and recovery operations are in full swing, particularly in hard-hit provinces in the Visayas. 

Teams have been deployed to restore power and communication lines, clear roads blocked by landslides and debris, and deliver food, water, and medical aid to affected communities.

Marcos also expressed concern over the high number of casualties and promised that the government will continue to provide aid while strengthening disaster preparedness efforts for the potential impact of Typhoon Uwan.

“I do not want to give a number because we are still in the process of validating all the numbers about the damages, etcetera, and the number of people who have been displaced, the number of families that are under evacuation centers, those that have been displaced na umuwi sa kanilang mga kamag-anak, sa mga kaibigan. Those are still being processed, but it is a significant number,” he said.

The President said the declaration would allow quicker access to emergency funds, streamlined procurement, and faster delivery of aid to affected areas.

“We don’t have to go through the usual bureaucratic procedures, and we can immediately provide assistance to the victims of the storms,” he added.  

Under the state of calamity, price freezes on basic commodities will also take effect nationwide to prevent profiteering during the crisis.