TYPHOON TINO AFTERMATH: State of calamity declared in Cebu City

Local

AFTER days of relentless rain, flooding, and devastation, Cebu City has been placed under a state of calamity.

This follows the widespread damage caused by Typhoon Tino, which battered the city with fierce winds, torrential downpours, and deadly landslides.

The Cebu City Council approved the declaration in a special session on Wednesday, November 5, upon the recommendation of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), allowing the local government to tap emergency funds and expedite disaster response operations.

According to CCDRRMC Resolution No. 110, Series of 2025, the declaration enables the city to “mobilize resources, access emergency funds, and implement urgent disaster response and recovery measures” in compliance with Republic Act No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Typhoon Tino, which struck the Visayas with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 205 kph, unleashed flash floods and landslides across multiple barangays, causing prolonged power outages and the evacuation of thousands of families.

The CCDRRMC cited verified reports of at least nine casualties and several missing persons in Cebu City as of Tuesday, November 4, at 5:00 p.m., though the number is expected to rise as rescue teams reach isolated communities.

Mayor Nestor Archival said the city’s priority now is to clear blocked roads, restore utilities, and deliver aid to affected families.

“Cebu City needs your strength, your time, and your heart,” Archival said.

He is urging volunteers and organizations to assist in clearing operations and relief efforts.

With the calamity declaration in place, the city can now access ₱120 million from its Quick Response Fund (QRF) and ₱33 million from its Relief and Recovery Assistance Fund for immediate humanitarian aid and rehabilitation.

A separate resolution also requests the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to impose a price freeze on essential commodities such as fuel, food, water, and other basic goods to prevent overpricing amid the crisis.

Across Cebu Province, Tino has left a devastating toll, killing at least 98 people and displacing more than 120,000 residents, according to official reports from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

Liloan recorded the highest number of fatalities with 35 deaths, followed by Compostela with 16, Mandaue City with 12, Danao City with 9, Talisay City with 7, Balamban with 6, and Consolacion with 1. Cebu City separately confirmed 12 fatalities.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro described the flooding as “unprecedented,” saying that while the province had prepared for strong winds, the scale of rainfall was far beyond projections.

Cebu received 183 millimeters of rainfall in just 24 hours, more than its monthly average, overwhelming the city’s drainage systems and inundating several low-lying neighborhoods.

Large portions of the province remain without electricity and stable communication. Power interruptions continue in Danao City, Bantayan, Tabogon, Medellin, and Daanbantayan, while the water supply remains disrupted in Danao and San Francisco.

Flooding submerged several barangays in Liloan, Mandaue, Talisay, Consolacion, and Danao, swamping subdivisions such as Villa Azalea, Modena, and Palm River.

The EOC also confirmed damage to key infrastructure, including the Guinsay and Looc Bridges in Danao City, which remain impassable due to debris and cracks.

Emergency teams from the Cebu City Medical Center, local fire stations, and barangay rescue units continue to retrieve bodies and deliver relief goods to evacuees.

As of Wednesday, 37 local government units have activated 968 evacuation centers now sheltering 38,425 families or 120,874 individuals.

Mayor Archival has suspended work in all city government offices to allow employees to assist in relief operations. Donation centers have also been opened for food, water, hygiene kits, blankets, and tents.

Despite improving weather conditions, authorities continue to warn residents against possible landslides and renewed flooding in saturated areas as cleanup and recovery efforts continue across the city and province.(TGP)