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| Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas led the distribution of aid to the victims affected by severe tropical storm Kristine. (Image Source: Batangas Provincial Public Information Office) |
"Dito sa Lalawigan ng Batangas, tayo ay nagkakaisa, nagtutulong-tulong. Ipinapakita na ang ating malasakit ay totoo. (Here in the Province of Batangas, we are united, helping each other. It shows that our concern is real.)” This was emphasized by Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas to the staff of the Provincial Government of Batangas a few days since various towns and cities in the province experienced continuous rains, strong gusts of wind, and severe flooding unleashed by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. In this regard, the provincial chief has made the quick and continuous delivery of aid by the provincial government to Batangueños who were greatly affected by the recent calamity a major priority.
Based on the latest data released by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), a total of 81,679 families or an equivalent of 389,493 individuals from 791 barangays throughout the province were affected by the typhoon. Of this number, there are still 20,965 families or an equivalent of 88,374 individuals who remain displaced or temporarily evacuated and are still in evacuation centers or not with their relatives. Across the province, there are 62 evacuation centers that are open and continue to operate. The report also recorded a total of 36,208 damaged homes, of which 4,987 were totally damaged and 34,039 were partially damaged. In the agricultural sector, the cost of progress damages or damage left by the typhoon has reached over Php1.1B (1.1 billion pesos). 8,089 farmers are affected while the damaged area is 4,601.21 hectares. In the aforementioned amount, this includes the fisheries sector and irrigation system as well as various types of crops such as rice, corn, cassava, vegetables, fruit-bearing trees, and rootcrops. Although a large part or percentage of the roads and bridges in the province are now open to the public and vehicles, there is still no denying the impact of the severe flooding, landslides, mudslides, and fallen trees in at the height of the typhoon hitting almost 116 roads and bridges across the province. Also according to the report, 59 casualties were recorded and 12 individuals were missing.
The provincial government has allocated more than Php8.6M (8.6 million pesos) in cost of assistance for its response to those affected by Typhoon Kristine in different parts of the province. In response, the Provincial Capitol is continuously conducting relief operations where Governor Mandanas personally visits the affected barangays throughout the province. Since October 24, 2024, complete assistance to those affected by the typhoon including food, medical attention, and financial support is currently in progress. The aid delivered in these affected areas includes providing basic needs such as hot meals or cooked food, food packs, hygiene kits, emergency supplies, and other essential items. The provision of health services is also ensured which includes consultation, mental health and psychosocial processing, distribution of free medicine, and information dissemination campaigns against diseases that can be acquired during disasters or rains. The governor himself is personally providing financial assistance to the relatives of those who lost their lives due to Typhoon Kristine. The Capitol is immediately distributing donations received from private associations, organizations, and companies to affected families and individuals.
In addition, the constituents of the PDRRMC Response Clusters and the Unified Command Incident Management Team (UCIMT) are helping each other out and remain organized for the deployment and augmentation of manpower, assets, and additional resources that are required for a more extended delivery of services and assistance. This is proof of the statement made by Governor Mandanas, that at a time when the province is experiencing this type of test, unity is necessary. “Hindi natin kakayanin kung tayo lamang, kahit na tayo ay nakahanda, kahit na tayo ay nagsisikap…kailangan [din] ang patuloy na panalangin (We can't do it by ourselves, even if we are ready, even if we try...continuous praying [also] is needed)," said the governor. In fact, the deployed personnel from the Provincial UCIMT are still working non-stop to carry out road clearing operations on some other affected roads and bridges for continuous cleaning of the thick mud, collapsed soil, fallen trees, and other things that may cause danger to the public. Search and retrieval operations for reported missing persons are also ongoing. The province also welcomes several disaster response contingents from different areas of the country which is a big help because of the additional retrieval assets. Among the partner agencies, offices, stakeholders, and PDRRMC members, Governor Mandanas expressed his sincere gratitude to the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (LDRRMO) of the 34 cities and municipalities in the province, Batangas Air Force and K9 Unit, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard and K9 Unit, Philippine Navy and Reservists, Philippine Army SOLCOM, Philippine Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Information and Communications Technology IV-A, Department of Education, WISAR Philippines, Ugnayan Search, Rescue and Retrieval Team, Makati CDRRMO, Valenzuela CDRRMO, and locals in Dolores, Quezon. It also includes several other provincial government offices, consisting of the Office of the Provincial Governor, Provincial Information Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Health Office, Provincial Engineering Office, Provincial Assistance for Community, Public Employment, and Youth and Sports Development Office, Provincial General Services Office, and other partner offices belonging to the response cluster of the province. Meanwhile, the governor pointed out that the Multi-purpose Rescue Vehicles provided by the national government to the province helped a lot in the previous calamities which, according to Mandanas, were used in evacuation and rescue efforts.
"We need to act, we need to give hope to the people," said Governor Mandanas in the previous Media Briefing, which reflected the readiness of the province to help and give hope to the Batangueños. Though there is no avoidance of having casualties caused by the ravages of the typhoon, the entire province tried, to the best of its ability, to be prepared and ready for what was then expected to be the conditions brought about by the severe tropical storm upon passing towards Luzon considering its radius, wind strength and speed. With the impact of the typhoon hitting the province, despite heavy rains and gusts of wind not subsided on the 24th of October, the Emergency Operations Center of the province had to immediately deploy Mountain Search and Rescue and Water Search and Rescue (MOSAR/WASAR) teams and conduct a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) to ensure immediate reporting on the situation and needs of the victims in affected areas. The Province of Batangas is currently under a State of Calamity upon the Provincial Council's approval Resolution No. 1565 the day after Kristine batters Luzon. This allows the province, in line with the continuing focus of the provincial government, to immediately formulate and implement plans for the delivery of the needs of the affected Batangueño people and the rapid recovery of Batangas.
(With words by Mark Jonathan M. Macaraig, Batangas Provincial Public Information Office)
