Typhoon Tino leaves 96 dead, 40 missing

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – At least 96 people were killed as Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) battered Negros Occidental from Nov. 4 to 5, leaving destruction estimated at almost PHP 2 billion across the province.

A validated final report from the Office of Civil Defense–Negros Island provided to reporters Thursday listed 96 confirmed fatalities and 40 individuals still missing.

The Office of Civil Defense–Negros Island Region has formally terminated search, rescue and retrieval operations for missing persons following the storm.

OCD-NIR Director Donato Sermeno III said SRR operations, which began Nov. 4, were concluded Sunday after an advisory from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

He said SRR units may continue retrieval efforts on a case-by-case basis if families request it.

“If the family is not satisfied, they can request a continuation,” Sermeno said, assuring continued support for families searching for missing loved ones.

Moises Padilla recorded the highest number of deaths at 22, followed by La Castellana with 13.

Additional fatalities were reported in La Carlota, Bago, Isabela, San Carlos and other local government units.

Typhoon Tino destroyed or damaged 200,685 homes, with 19,862 totally damaged and 180,823 partially damaged.

Bago, La Carlota, Hinigaran, Sagay and La Castellana were among the hardest hit in terms of housing destruction.

A total of 975,274 individuals across 570 barangays were affected by the storm.

Officials recorded 202,288 people inside evacuation centers and 273,403 others who sought shelter outside designated facilities.

Agricultural losses reached PHP 158.17 million, affecting rice, corn, cassava and high-value crops.

Rice losses amounted to PHP 105.06 million, corn to PHP 21.18 million and high-value crops to PHP 31.1 million.

Damage to livestock was estimated at PHP 18.84 million, affecting 983 households and more than 22,421 animals.

Fisheries sustained PHP 125.67 million in losses, while damage to farm machinery totaled PHP 449,000.

Combined agricultural and livestock losses reached PHP 303.13 million, bringing total primary sector damages to more than PHP 429 million.

Infrastructure took the biggest hit, with losses reaching PHP 1.5 billion.

Bridge damage amounted to PHP 724.72 million, followed by roads at PHP 328.84 million and school facilities at PHP 226.14 million.

Other affected infrastructure included spillways, government buildings, health centers, irrigation systems, slope protection and riprap structures.

Damage to the education sector totaled PHP 172.84 million, with 13 schools totally destroyed, 106 requiring major repairs, 935 needing minor repairs and 79 temporary learning spaces required.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson earlier said the provincial government is finalizing how the PHP 50 million fund for housing assistance will be distributed given the scale of damage.

The PHP 50 million came from the Office of the President and was released during the weekend after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited Moises Padilla and La Castellana, two of the towns hardest hit by Typhoon Tino.

Marcos also released PHP 45 million to the affected local governments during his visit.