Marinduque trail of destruction left behind by supertyphoon NinaPH

A view in Sta. Cruz. Photo: Doc Ninia Rodil

One does not need to exaggerate figures or engage in a listing of apparently padded numbers to convey the gravity of destruction left behind by Typhoon NinaPH (Nock-Ten) in the island-province of Marinduque. Basic facts need only to be stated, yes?

First, Typhoon Signal No. 3 then No. 4* was raised here when NinaPh made a landfall right in Torrijos, Marinduque (the 4th landfall after hitting Bato (Catanduanes), Sagnay (Camarines Sur), and San Andres (Quezon), on December 26, 2019 at 4:30 am.

On the very same day three provinces in Region V were immediately placed under a state of calamity by their respective provincial governments, namely Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur. The City of Calapan followed suit.

Calabarzon province of Batangas also declared a state of calamity on Dec. 27, with Quezon Province doing the same on Dec. 28.

View of Buenavista. Photo: Nanette Privado

In the afternoon of December 28, Marinduque's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) presented its report to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. This was made the basis for the province's state of calamity declaration same day.

The report was impressive: 52,000 families affected, it stated; with P 1,530,275.775.00 (P1.5-BILLION) in damages to Agriculture and P124.1-million in Infrastructure damages. The declaration was, however, followed by social media chatter, some criticizing the delay in issuing such a declaration ('calamitous delay', that may have caused the almost non-mention of Marinduque in media reports some say), others questioning the correctness of the figures.

The typhoon has exited the Philippines five days ago, local government units in Marinduque at once pooled all available resources for relief operations for the typhoon victims. This, alongside numerous groups feeling duty-bound to respond by distributing relief goods to as many barangays as they could reach. Up to the present, including the populated smaller islands.

Photo: Armop Valenzuela Roldan/TEAM VELASCO

Where do we go from here

'Where do we go from here?' must be the most frequently asked question of Marinduquenos these days. The horrible impact of the Christmas typhoon in the minds of the victims will be told and retold for sometime after all.

We will have to start by assessing the damages with realistic data, hard facts, that would allow us to move responsibly from there. The task of rebuilding at the soonest possible time may be so formidable indeed, but not impossible.

Photo: Ed Ancheta/REACT

As of today, January 2, 2017 (Happy New Year!), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council that has received and collated all official information about this disaster reports:

That with respect to Infrasructure the entire CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Region V's cost of damages was P. 1,053,233,895.00. (Infrastructure as used here includes roads, bridges, river control, health and school facilities).

Cost of damages to Agriculture that includes crops, livelihoods, fisheries, fruit trees and vegetables for the said three regions totals: P 4,130,760,222.35.

Photo: Raoul Jogno Magcamit/Diocese of Boac/MACEC

MIMAROPA INFRASTRUCTURE (Roads and Bridges): P 47.2-million; (Flood Control): P186-million; (Health Facilities): P. 25-million)

MARINDUQUE: 

Damage to roads and bridges: P 18,950,000.00 
(For Or. Mindoro: P 17.7-million; for Occ. Mindoro: P 10.5-million)

Damage to flood control: P 16.3-million (For Mindoro: 150-million; Occ. Mindoro: P 19.7-million)

Damage to health facilities: P. 25-million (For Or. Mindoro: P 50-million; For Occ. Mindoro: no figures)

Silangan Elementary School, Mogpog. Photo: Kagawad Richard

Damage to other structures:
Schools: P. 26.8-million
Government: P 7.6-million
Markets/Church: P 675,000.00
(For Or. Mindoro: Schools: P. 1.3-million, Government: P4.7-million; Church P 71,000.00; For Occ. Mindoro: Schools: P 550,000.00 Government: P2.1-million; Church: 150,000.00)

MIMAROPA AGRICULTURE: CROPS (Rice, Corn, Cassava): P 13.8-million; Livestocks: P 676,700.00; HVCC (Mango, Banana, Papaya, Vegetables): P 38.2-million; Fisheries: P 84.5-million.

MARINDUQUE AGRICULTURE:
Crops (Rice): P 87,400.00; (Corn): P 567,500.00 (For Or. Mindoro: Rice: P 3.1-million; Corn: no figures; For Occ. Mindoro: Rice: P 9.9-million)

Livestocks: P 612,000.00 (For Or. Mindoro: P 12,000.00;  Occ. Mindoro: no figures

Photo: Jing-jing Garcia Loto/Boac Municipal Govt

HVCC (Mango, Banana, Papaya, Vegetables) P. 37.5-million (Or. Mindoro: No figures; Occ. Mindoro: P 804,000.00)

Fisheries: P 565,000.00 (For Or. Mindoro: P 83.9-million; Occ. Mindoro: no figures)

Typhoon NinaPH Cost of Damages as of today Jan. 2, 2017. Infrastructure + Agriculture. Source: NDRRMC

MARINDUQUE TOTAL COST (Infrastructure + Agriculture): P 134.7-million
(For Or. Mindoro: P 261-million; For Occidental Mindoro: P 43.8-million. These figures, of course, are expected to go higher).

Photo: Dahlia Nunez Ituralde

DAMAGED HOUSES

With respect to houses, Marinduque had a total of 5,848 totally damaged houses; 27,676 partially damaged houses for a total of 33,524.

(Oriental Mindoro suffered 2,530 totally damaged houses; 9,387 partially damaged houses for a total of 11,917. Occidental Mindoro had 2,530 totally damaged houses and 9,387 partially damaged houses for a total of 11,917.)

                                                                        Totally Damaged:    Partially Damaged:    Total:

For further comparison, the Region V province of Camarines Sur had 38,240 totally damaged houses; 76,344 partially damaged houses for a total of 114,584. Catanduanes had 7,415 totally damaged houses; 19,631 partially damaged houses for a total of 27,046.

Casualties

There were reports of casualty/casualties in Marinduque but the NDRCC records show only 2 casualties in MIMAROPA where two boys from Brgy. Socorro, Or. Mindoro were carried away by strong river current.

Photo: Doc Ninia Rodil, Club Marinduqueno, Inc

What about the number of families and persons affected?

Based on reports from the 218 Barangays and their corresponding 6 Municipalities the number of families affected in Marinduque was 36,031 and total number of persons affected was 180,155. These represents some 77% of the population of Marinduque (Pop: 234,521 as of 2015), whose houses were totally or partially damaged.

Photo: Sherwin Catera/MATA Partylist

Photo: Sec. Judy Taguiwalo/DSWD

Back to truth

So, it should be back to getting real. Back to thinking about more credible sound bites, or not thinking of such at all but just stating things plainly, honestly. Lest claims and figures coming from official sources in this so devastated and victimized island-province may become suspect. Again. 

Marinduquenos need all the felp, please! Felp!

(* Signal No. 4 according to FB posts. No confirmation from PAGASA , however).