President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Monday directed all government agencies to immediately provide and sustain assistance to residents affected by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong) and Typhoon Tino.
During a situation briefing at the Presidential Security Command (PSC) Command Operations Center in Malacañang, Marcos ordered key disaster and response officials to ramp up post-disaster operations across the country.
Marcos instructed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) to continue delivering relief assistance and ensure the deployment of medical teams to evacuation centers.
He also ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to begin road rehabilitation immediately to facilitate the delivery of relief supplies and speed up access to affected communities.
The Chief Executive emphasized that all concerned agencies must maintain their ongoing response efforts for areas still dealing with the effects of Typhoon Tino, alongside operations for Super Typhoon Uwan.
Marcos cited the country’s improved disaster preparedness measures, crediting the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) for preemptive evacuations that minimized casualties.
According to the OCD, 426,000 families were preemptively evacuated before Uwan’s landfall. Despite widespread flooding and infrastructure damage, initial reports confirmed two fatalities and two others under validation.
The OCD added that rescue operations are still ongoing in severely affected areas.
Impact assessment
Meanwhile, the OCD reported that Pangasinan was the most heavily affected province due to massive flooding, though floodwaters have started to subside.
At least 71 roads remain impassable, particularly in Central Luzon (Region III), Aurora province, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), including Mountain Province, Benguet, and Apayao.
A total of 155 areas experienced power interruptions, mostly in the Ilocos Region, with 15 already restored. In Aurora, one community remains isolated due to landslides, and a section of the Dipaculao–Casiguran national road was cut off.
The DSWD continues to monitor evacuation operations and the condition of displaced families. The Bicol Region recorded the highest number of evacuees, with 100,050 families affected, including 44,000 in Camarines Sur.
In Quezon province, about 20,000 families were affected by the typhoon. DSWD said many evacuees are expected to return home once floodwaters fully subside.
Marcos earlier placed all national agencies on full alert to ensure public safety in anticipation of the powerful storm Uwan.
The government also prepositioned rescue vehicles, relief goods, and response teams in high-risk areas ahead of the storm’s impact, he noted.