The provincial government of Southern Leyte has officially declared a state of calamity in the wake of the destructive passage of Typhoon Tino (international name: Typhoon Kalmaegi), which made landfall in the town of Silago and left extensive damage in its trail.
The declaration issued through Executive Order No. 54 by Governor Damian Mercado places the province under heightened disaster response and rehabilitation status.
According to local officials, the storm inflicted severe damage in Silago, where the mayor, Lemuel Honor, estimated that 80 to 95 percent of houses in the town were either partially or totally damaged.
Mayor Honor also noted that up to 14,000 households were without access to water, and that power restoration might be delayed due to the remote location of the town.
In addition to the housing devastation, the province reported at least 2 fatalities and 6 people missing in the aftermath of Tino’s onslaught.
Silago was among the first to bear the brunt of the storm, which caused torrential rainfall, flash flooding and violent winds.
The mayor indicated the town had experienced a major river overflow only once previously, in 1952, and said the current flood underscores the absence of adequate flood-control infrastructure.
With the declaration of a state of calamity, Southern Leyte can tap emergency disaster funds, expedite procurement of relief and rehabilitation materials, and implement measures such as curfews or price controls for relief goods.
The province government urged residents to practice caution as clearing operations and damage assessments remain ongoing.
Relief teams are prioritizing the delivery of drinking water, food packs, temporary shelter and debris removal. In Silago, trucks carrying water tankers from neighboring local government units have already been mobilized.
Provincial disaster management officials warned that roads, bridges and other infrastructure may have sustained hidden damage and inspections are underway.
Residents of remote barangays have been advised to keep clear of riverbanks and mountain slopes, which remain at risk from further rainfall, landslides and after-flood surges.
Governor Mercado stated that the province will request national government assistance to ramp up recovery.
He emphasized that while this “state of calamity” does not signal the end of danger, it is a necessary step to marshal resources and coordinate relief across all affected municipalities.
As of now, residents are staying in evacuation centers or with relatives, and local authorities continue to record the full extent of damage.
With much work ahead, Southern Leyte braces for a long road to recovery following Typhoon Tino’s impact.
(Report by Joyce Kahano-Alpino)
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