CARE boosts aid in Negros Occidental after Typhoon Tino

Negros Occidental is facing heightened disaster risks as CARE Philippines mobilizes emergency teams in response to Typhoon Tino’s impact across Visayas.

Heavy rains from the storm have triggered lahar alerts from Kanlaon Volcano, compounding the crisis for communities still reeling from its recent eruption.

“Women and girls are once again carrying the weight of overlapping crises,” said Reiza S. Dejito, country director of CARE Philippines.

“In Northern Cebu, families who lost their homes in the September earthquake are displaced again,” she added.

“Our recent assessment there showed that women were already under extreme stress, holding their families together while living outdoors in fear of aftershocks.”

“This typhoon now adds a devastating new layer of hardship to their struggle,” Dejito said.

“We are seeing similar compound crises in Eastern Samar, with recurring floods, and in Negros, with the threat of volcanic lahars.”

“Our immediate priority is to find out what people urgently need for shelter, clean water, and food,” she emphasized.

Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi), which made five landfalls across the Visayas, has affected 1,107,819 people and displaced 577,928 as of November 5.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has reported 52 deaths and 13 people missing as a result of the storm.

A State of Calamity has been declared in 53 cities and municipalities in Cebu due to the widespread damage.

CARE Philippines activated local emergency teams in Negros Occidental, Cebu, and Eastern Samar, focusing on rapid needs assessments and relief efforts.

The storm struck communities already suffering from recent emergencies, including a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Northern Cebu and repeated flooding in Eastern Samar.

In Negros Occidental, volcanic activity at Kanlaon continues to pose risks, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issuing lahar warnings due to persistent rain.

CARE’s response includes coordination with the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) and support from the European Union Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project.

These efforts are part of a pre-activated Start Ready initiative that allowed CARE to preposition emergency supplies in vulnerable areas like Eastern Samar.

CARE’s current priorities include providing food, clean water, shelter support, and hygiene kits for affected families.

CARE has a long record of disaster response in the Philippines, including Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) in 2021, and Super Typhoon Nando in 2025.

CARE officials noted that the convergence of multiple emergencies — including STS Opong, the Davao earthquake, and volcanic activity in Negros — is straining humanitarian efforts.

With field offices and long-term partnerships already in place, CARE said it is working swiftly to assess needs and deliver life-saving assistance.