Typhoon Tino damage in Negros hits PHP1.8 billion

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Typhoon Tino caused extensive damage in Negros Occidental, affecting 569 barangays and displacing hundreds of thousands of residents, according to the latest executive brief from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

The report said 218,764 families, or 792,251 individuals, were affected by the typhoon’s onslaught from Nov. 4 to 5.

At the height of the storm, 55,471 families took shelter in evacuation centers across the province.

A total of 199,703 houses were damaged—18,793 were totally destroyed, and 180,910 were partially damaged.

La Castellana recorded the highest number of damaged homes at 56,135, followed by Bago City with 31,927.

Casualties were also significant, with 105 deaths, 42 missing persons, and 237 injuries reported in several cities and towns.

Among the most affected areas were Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Hinigaran, and Talisay City.

Agricultural losses were pegged at PHP158.8 million, covering rice, corn, cassava, and high-value crops.

Rice losses alone reached PHP105 million, affecting 3,547 farmers.

The fisheries sector sustained PHP39.8 million in losses, while livestock damage amounted to PHP4 million, affecting 537 households.

Damage to farm machinery was reported at PHP449,000.

Infrastructure sustained the heaviest blow, with total losses estimated at PHP1.39 billion.

These include PHP619.6 million in damage to bridges and PHP752 million to roads.

School facilities sustained PHP222.1 million in damages, while government and health facilities recorded nearly PHP52 million in losses.

The Department of Education reported PHP172.8 million in damages to schools, including 13 totally damaged buildings.

A total of 106 schools required major repairs, 935 needed minor repairs, and 259 required clean-up operations.

At least 79 temporary learning spaces were also needed.

Combined damage across all sectors has exceeded PHP1.8 billion, and provincial officials warned the total may rise as assessments continue.

In response, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian led an emergency coordination meeting Friday with local chief executives and district representatives from typhoon-affected areas in the Negros Island Region.

Present were Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Dino Yulo, 4th District Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, Negros Oriental 1st District Rep. Emmanuel Iway, and several mayors from Negros Occidental.

Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco “Batchok” Cardenas of Negros Oriental also attended.

Gatchalian said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed him to visit affected areas to ensure the national government’s presence is felt on the ground.

“The president instructed me to make sure that affected communities feel that no one is being left behind,” Gatchalian told reporters.

“We want people to feel that everyone is important—those hit by earthquakes, those affected by storms—we are responding to all of them.”

He said that although regional directors are coordinating relief efforts, it remains vital for him to get firsthand information from the field.

“It’s different when I hear directly from the local chief executives,” he said.

“Each area experienced different challenges—landslides in some, varying impacts depending on where the typhoon made landfall.”

“We need to understand these particular conditions to know which interventions are necessary,” he added.

Gatchalian also announced the launch of one of the agency’s largest food distribution operations in recent years.

“Nationwide, we have already distributed 1.2 million food boxes in just two weeks,” he said.

“Around 44,000 to 50,000 of those are allocated for Negros.”

He said he originally planned to visit Sunday but had to adjust due to the need to monitor Typhoon Uwan.

“We are covering as much ground as we can,” he said.

“I came from Southern Leyte earlier, and we plan to visit more areas in the coming days.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that if weather permits, President Marcos—who is expected to arrive Saturday—will visit Moises Padilla and La Castellana, two of the hardest-hit areas.