ILOILO – The full extent of Typhoon “Tino’s” (international name: “Kalmaegi”) wrath came into focus Tuesday, with tens of thousands of families displaced across Western Visayas and widespread power outages, transport disruptions, and flooded communities reported across five provinces.
According to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6, at least 42,555 families, or 133,554 individuals, were affected by the typhoon as of Tuesday morning, November 4.
Of these, 30,120 families (94,324 individuals) stayed in 1,304 evacuation centers, while another 11,880 families (37,238 individuals) took shelter with relatives and friends.
But with more local government units expected to file reports today and in succeeding days due to difficulty in communication yesterday, the number of displaced could still rise.
Thousands in Shelters, Many More Without Power
Antique province was among the hardest hit, with power outages reported in seven towns.
Across the region, 25 seaports were paralyzed by rough seas — 15 in Iloilo, three each in Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras, and one in Capiz — leaving 413 passengers stranded as shipping operations were suspended.
The breakdown of affected families by province paints a grim picture: Capiz recorded 17,091 families (50,311 individuals), Iloilo 9,001 families (28,182 individuals), Aklan 7,966 families (27,568 individuals), Antique 7,395 families (23,632 individuals), and Guimaras 1,102 families (3,861 individuals).
Preemptive Evacuations Saved Lives
OCD-6 said 3,983 families (12,534 individuals) were evacuated ahead of Tino’s landfall — a precaution officials credited for preventing more casualties.
The highest number of evacuees came from Capiz with 3,661 families (11,373 individuals), followed by Guimaras with 219 families (786 individuals), Aklan with 93 (342 individuals), and Iloilo with 10 (33 individuals).
Relief and Aid Underway
Government agencies and local responders have been distributing aid since Monday night, November 3.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) estimated that P1.1 million worth of assistance is needed for the 4,950 families currently registered as requiring urgent support.
Relief efforts are ongoing in evacuation centers, where food, water, and medical supplies are being rushed to affected residents.
OCD-6 director Raul Fernandez said the focus has now shifted from evacuation to immediate relief and recovery.
“We continue to coordinate with LGUs to ensure that assistance reaches every family in need as fast as possible,” Fernandez said, commending local responders for their quick action during the height of the storm.
Communities Picking Up the Pieces
Despite the massive destruction, communities across Western Visayas are showing resilience. Residents have begun clearing debris from roads, repairing damaged homes, and helping one another rebuild.
Local disaster offices remain on high alert as authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage caused by Tino, which battered the region barely a week after days of heavy monsoon rains.
“The situation remains difficult, but our people are strong and cooperative,” Fernandez added. “We will recover together.”/PN
