As recommended by its PDRRMC
(PHOTO COURTESY LAVISHNE GARNETTE)
TACLOBAN CITY– The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Northern Samar has recommended placing the entire province under a state of calamity following the devastation left by Super Typhoon ‘Uwan’, which displaced thousands of families and damaged homes and public infrastructure.
Governor Harris Ongchuan, who chairs the council, approved the recommendation during a PDRRMC meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The resolution will be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for affirmation during its regular session on Friday.
According to Provincial DRRM Officer Rei Josiah Echano, Uwan’s powerful winds and storm surges battered Northern Samar from the evening of November 8 until midday of November 9, affecting 94,199 families across 548 barangays.
The storm displaced 36,843 families (130,356 individuals) and left 16,826 houses partially damaged and 426 totally destroyed, mostly in the municipalities of Biri, Laoang, and Rosario.
The province also reported damage to infrastructure, including the well-known Pinusilan Bridge, a tourist attraction located in the town of Mapanas, which collapsed under the force of strong waves and storm surges.
Governor Ongchuan directed the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to prioritize emergency shelter and recovery assistance for families with limited means to rebuild.
He also emphasized the need to maintain 5,000 to 10,000 prepositioned relief goods in preparation for future weather disturbances.
Vice Governor Clarence Dato supported the governor’s directive, stressing that assistance should follow the standard response protocol—from barangays to municipalities, with the province augmenting when local resources are exhausted.
The province of Northern Samar reported of zero casualty due to the storm, citing its forced or preemptive evacuation efforts as the factor.
On Tuesday, Nov.11, Eastern Samar has also declared a state of calamity following the extensive damage caused by Uwan in several of its coastal towns.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
