Cebu declares state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines, November 6 ------ The entire province of Cebu has been placed under a state of calamity after Typhoon Tino battered the island and destroyed infrastructure, homes and sources of livelihood.

Under Executive Order 68, Series of 2025, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro yesterday declared the province under a state of calamity to accelerate relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported extensive damage across Cebu’s component cities and municipalities, with casualties, displaced families and interruptions in electricity, water supply and communication lines.

According to the EO, Typhoon Tino “caused severe damage to infrastructure, government facilities, private establishments and residential areas, resulting in loss of lives, injuries and displacement of communities.” As of 7:20 p.m. yesterday, Typhoon Tino claimed 111 lives across Cebu, according to local authorities in the province.

The highest number of fatalities was reported in Liloan with 35 deaths, followed by Compostela with 25, Cebu City and Mandaue with 12 each and Danao with nine. Talisay recorded seven deaths, Balamban six, Asturias two, while Consolacion, Bantayan and Tabogon had one each.

Due to this, the EO underscored the need for immediate government action to protect lives and restore order. All provincial offices, cities and municipalities are now authorized to use their Quick Response Funds (QRFs) and other available resources to support emergency operations, provided these comply with existing auditing rules.

Baricuatro also directed the local Price Coordination Council, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, to impose a price freeze on basic goods and prime commodities under Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act to prevent hoarding and profiteering. Section 4 of the EO assigns the Cebu PDRRMO and local disaster offices to lead and coordinate response activities, including search and rescue, distribution of relief aid, medical assistance and long-term rehabilitation. The declaration took effect immediately and will remain in force until lifted upon the PDRRMC’s recommendation.

No electricity

Typhoon Tino struck Northern and Central Cebu with strong winds and heavy rainfall that knocked down trees, toppled power lines and submerged low-lying communities. Many towns remain without power and cellular signal, while water supply restoration continues. Baricuatro met with utility providers yesterday to coordinate immediate restoration of essential services. She also confirmed that President Marcos is scheduled to visit Cebu tomorrow to assess damage and support national relief efforts.

About 45 percent of Cebu’s power has been restored, but major substations in Liloan and Consolacion were flooded, delaying full energization. Visayan Electric Co. reported 85 to 99 percent power recovery in southern towns, while northern municipalities and Cebu City, Talisay and Mandaue remain partially without electricity. Cebeco III restored 14 percent of its service areas. Water supply is also limited, with only 40 percent of Metropolitan Cebu Water District facilities operational. Several barangays in Cebu City and surrounding towns are experiencing low to no water pressure. Telecommunications remain disrupted, with Globe targeting 90 percent restoration in two to three days, while Smart and PLDT services remain down in several towns.

The PDRRMO said rescue teams and local responders have been dispatched to conduct retrieval and clearing operations. Evacuation centers remain open to shelter for displaced families, while relief goods are being distributed in affected areas. Provincial authorities have appealed to national government agencies and private organizations to extend assistance, particularly to heavily affected municipalities such as Compostela, Danao, Liloan and Bogo.

Neighboring Negros Island has also suffered significant losses. As of 2:30 p.m. yesterday, the Philippine National Police reported 31 deaths and 41 missing in the province due to the typhoon. Over 39,000 families, comprising more than 134,000 individuals, were affected, with around 16,200 families staying in evacuation centers and nearly 8,800 families outside. Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he will consult the provincial legal office on whether to declare a state of calamity for the province. Residents in both Cebu and Negros are urged to stay vigilant, cooperate with authorities and remain hopeful as rescue, relief and recovery operations continue.

The Department of Health has warned residents in typhoon-hit areas to avoid wading through floodwaters to prevent contracting leptospirosis, a potentially deadly bacterial infection. Those who cannot avoid flood exposure were advised to wash thoroughly with soap and clean water afterward. “Don’t just take doxycycline,” the DOH also advised, noting that the antibiotic should only be taken with a doctor’s prescription. If used incorrectly, the health department warned, doxycycline may fail to treat the infection properly and may lead to longer treatment or more serious illness. Appropriate dosage depends on an individual’s level of exposure, stressing that self-medication could be dangerous, it added.

Motorists were likewise advised to find alternate routes and refrain from driving through flooded streets. Meanwhile, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. said its benefit package for leptospirosis patients covers up to P21,450 in hospitalization costs. In addition to power and water outages, Typhoon Tino also caused major interruptions to flights and sea travel.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines reported a total of 56 domestic flights were canceled as of 12:30 p.m. yesterday, due to the effects of Tino. According to CAAP, Philippine Airlines canceled 10 domestic flights, mostly serving routes between Manila and major tourist destinations.

Cebgo grounded 18 flights, while AirSwift suspended 22 flights, including those bound for El Nido and other island destinations. Sunlight Air also halted six flights as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that as of noon yesterday, 2,647 passengers, truck drivers and cargo helpers were stranded in 36 ports nationwide. In addition, 574 rolling cargoes, 12 vessels and eight motorized boats could not depart, while 120 vessels and 62 motorized boats took shelter.

Source: philstar.com