November 2009

NDCC REPORT ON THE EFFECTS OF TYPHOONS ONDOY, PEPENG, RAMIL AND SANTI

Four typhoons crossed the Philippines over a period of four weeks, wreaking heavy damage and causing loss of lives and property in the main island of Luzon. The first two of these typhoons, Ondoy (Cyclone Ketsana) and Pepeng (Cyclone Parma), caused heavy flooding in widespread areas and landslides in mountain regions, and affected millions of persons.

The Philippine Consulate General in Sydney presents the summary of a report dated 30 October 2009 of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Philippine Government’s body that coordinates inter-agency actions for disaster mitigation and response. The report provides information on the effects of the two typhoons, as well as the humanitarian and relief assistance being provided to the calamity victims. The full report is available at the NDCC website at www.ndcc.gov.ph.

The Consulate is also posting information on the effects of two additional typhoons, Ramil (Cyclone Lupit) and Santi (Cyclone Mirinae), which brought rains to Luzon and caused new flooding.

Typhoon Ondoy
Typhoon Ondoy (Cyclone Ketsana) unleashed a continuous six-hour heavy downpour during the weekend of 26-27 September, bringing rainfall that measured 341.3 mm, flooding many parts of the island of Luzon, including the heavilypopulated National Capital Region

• This storm affected 986,825 families (4,846,417 persons) in 172 municipalities
  and 16 cities in 26 provinces. It affected in Regions I (Ilocos Region), II (Cagayan
  Valley), III (Central Luzon), IV-A (Calabarzon), IV-B (Mimaropa), V (Bicol Region),
  VI (Western Visayas), IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), XII (Central Mindanao), ARMM
  (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao), CAR (Cordillera Administrative
  Region) and National Capital Region (Metro Manila);
  
  
• The total number of evacuees currently staying inside 252 evacuation centers is
  16,233 families (72,575 persons). The number of casualties is 1,030, consisting
  of 464 dead, 529 injured and 37 missing;
  
  
• The estimated cost of damage to infrastructure was PHP 4.391 billion and to
  agriculture PHP 6.669 billion;
  
  
• A total of 1,295 school buildings were damaged (1,047 elementary schools and
  242 high schools), destroying instructional materials and school equipment
  valued at PHP 750 million. A total of 239 day care centers were damaged in
  Metro Manila;
  
  
• A total of 203,477 hectares of agricultural land were affected and destroyed
  329.230 metric tons of crops (rice, corn, high value commercial crops), fishery
  products, livestock/poultry and facilities for irrigation, fishery and
  livestock/poultry production);
  
  
• A total of 158,545 houses were damaged, of which 130,736 were partially
  damaged and 27,809 houses were totally destroyed.

Typhoon Pepeng
Typhoon Pepeng (Cyclone Parma), which crossed Northern Luzon twice, the first time on 1-3 October and a second time on 7-9 October, caused landslides in the mountainous region of the Cordilleras and severe flooding along river systems in the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley. The extent of damage caused by the typhoon is as follows:

• The storm affected 954,087 families (4,478,284 persons) in 364 municipalities
  and 36 cities in 27 provinces in Regions I (Ilocos Region), II (Cagayan Valley), III
  (Central Luzon), IV-A (Calabarzon), IV-B (Mimaropa), CAR (Cordillera
  Administrative Region), and the National Capital Region (Metro Manila);
  
  
• As of 30 October 2009, the number of evacuees remaining in 54 evacuation
  centers is 3,258 families (14,892 persons). Total casualties numbered 719: 465
  dead, 207 injured, and 47 missing;
  
  
• A total of 54,373 houses were damaged, of which 48,120 houses had partial
  damage and 6,253 were totally destroyed. Some 1,372 schools were damaged;
  
  
• A total of 428,034 hectares of agricultural land were affected, causing the loss of
  1,052.993 metric tons of crops (rice, corn, high-value commercial crops, abaca,
  and irrigation facilities);
  
  
• The cost of damage to infrastructure was PHP 6.408 billion to infrastructure,
  PHP 20.483 billion to agriculture, and PHP 0.003 billion to personal property;

Typhoon Ramil
Typhoon Ramil (Cyclone Lupit) had strong-force winds which threatened to develop into a “supertyphoon”. The storm system did not traverse the Philippines, as it changed direction as it neared the country, but its winds brought rainfall on 20 October to the northern areas of the island of Luzon.

A total of 1,271 families (5,239 persons) in 19 municipalities and 2 cities in 7 provinces of Regions I (Ilocos Region), II (Cagayan Valley) and CAR Cordillera Administrative Region) were evacuated as precaution, but they returned to their homes on 24 October.

The typhoon damaged 45 houses in Region II (Cagayan Valley).

Typhoon Santi
Typhoon Santi (Cyclone Mirinae) traversed through the Southern Tagalog region on 30-31 October, bringing strong winds, heavy rains, storm surges and big waves, resulting in extensive power failures, flooding, and damage to property in the Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions.

The typhoon affected 61,596 families (303,440 persons) in 15 cities and 84 municipalities of 14 provinces in Regions III (Central Luzon), IV-A (Calabarzon), IVB (Mimaropa), V (Bicol), and the National Capital Region. As a preemptive measure, various local governments evacuated 61,596 families (303,440 persons), who were either brought to 251 evacuation centers or located to safe areas.

The casualties numbered 19 dead, 6 injured, and 3 missing. A total of 3,310 families (15,917 persons) were sheltered in 99 evacuation centers. The typhoon damaged 27,659 houses, partially damaging 24,530 and destroying 3,129).

The cost of damage wrought upon infrastructure, agriculture, and private property is still being assessed.