TACLOBAN CITY – The city government of Calbayog has declared a state of calamity following the widespread destruction caused by Typhoon “Opong.”
The declaration was approved on Saturday, September 27, 2025, after the Sangguniang Panlungsod, led by Vice Mayor Rex Daguman, convened in a special session at the request of Mayor Raymund Uy.
The move followed a resolution passed by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) which is chaired by Uy.
Calbayog City was among the areas in Eastern Visayas placed under Signal No. 4 when “Opong” made landfall in San Policarpo, Eastern Samar.
Mayor Uy, in a press conference, said more than 15 percent of the city’s population had been affected by the storm, while over 75 percent of the city’s vegetable growers suffered extensive losses.
The fishery sector also reported initial losses estimated at more than P250,000, including damage to 12 fishing boats and several “baklad” — stationary fish traps made of bamboo and nets.
According to the city government, several school buildings were also damaged, though the official number of totally and partially damaged classrooms is still being validated by the Department of Education’s City Division Office. Public utilities such as water and electricity were also disrupted.
A total of 1,023 families were evacuated during the storm, especially from coastal and flood-prone areas. Mayor Uy said that at the height of “Opong,” several residents appealed for rescue but authorities had to weigh the safety of rescuers and instructed families to stay put until conditions improved.
The mayor added that prior to the typhoon’s landfall, pre-emptive evacuation orders had been issued, but some residents did not heed the call.
The declaration of a state of calamity allows the city government to access emergency funds for relief, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts, and to freeze prices of basic commodities in affected areas.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
