Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 30) — House Speaker Martin Romualdez is backing the proposal of emergency response officials to declare a year-long national state of calamity due to the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.
“Reports reaching my office indicate that almost all regions in the country were affected by the onslaught of STS Paeng, which destroyed bridges, roads, and key infrastructure and wrought havoc to life and property,” Romualdez said in a statement Sunday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) made the recommendation at a briefing on Saturday, where Office of Civil Defense Administrator Raymundo Ferrer said 16 out of the country’s 17 regions were considered high risk for Paeng.
As of 6 a.m. Sunday, the NDRRMC said it is still validating 11 reported casualties but it confirmed 37 deaths, 33 of which were from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), two from Western Visayas, and two others from Soccsksargen.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he will review the official resolution from the NDRRMC. During a briefing on Sunday, NDRRMC Chairperson Jose Faustino Jr. said the agency’s official resolution was on its way to Marcos.
Romualdez said the government is focusing on relief operations to help those affected by Paeng.
“Romualdez announced that he has already gained pledges of assistance from fellow House members led by Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, and private individuals in connection with the relief drive and initially generated P35 million worth of donations and pledges as of 12:45 a.m. Sunday,” according to a statement from the Office of the House Speaker.
