ILOILO City – Even as Typhoon “Tino” battered the city on Tuesday, supermarkets, groceries, and public markets remained calm and orderly, with no cases of panic buying reported, according to the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
Darwin Joemil Papa, head of the CDRRMO Disaster Response Division, said residents bought supplies in normal quantities before the typhoon made landfall, and store inventories remained stable throughout the storm’s passage.
“Normal lang nga volume sang pagpamakal, ugaling kay nagdululungan lang gid,” Papa said.
He added: “Bastante ang basic goods. May mga reported nga areas nga medyo gutok, pero sa iban nga groceries matawhay ang pilahan — meaning, enough ang basic commodities sa syudad.”
Papa emphasized that there was “no hoarding, no panic buying,” as coordination between the city government, market administrators, and private establishments helped ensure steady supply and distribution.
“Ang importante, magpabilin kita nga kalmado kag magbakal lang sang kinahanglanon,” he added.
He also cautioned against overbuying, noting that such behavior could unnecessarily deplete inventories meant to serve more residents.
“There’s no cause for alarm. The city’s supply of food, water, and other essentials remains sufficient,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Raisa Treñas personally supervised the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) operations on Tuesday, ensuring all response teams were on alert for possible post-storm emergencies.
“We are fully prepared to respond to any eventuality,” Treñas said. “The city government is closely watching developments and we are working together with our barangay officials, police, and rescue units to protect our people.”
As of yesterday, 450 evacuation centers across Iloilo City remained ready to shelter affected families, while CDRRMO teams continued to monitor coastal and flood-prone areas for possible secondary effects from Typhoon Tino’s aftermath./PN
