As recommended by its PDRRMC

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)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has intensified its relief and recovery operations in Eastern Visayas, delivering hot meals and assistance to families affected by Typhoons Uwan and Tino across the region.

In the town of Hinunangan, Southern Leyte, DSWD’s Mobile Kitchen has been serving freshly cooked, nutritious meals to residents displaced by Typhoon Tino. The initiative, carried out by the DSWD’s field personnel known as the “Angels in Red Vests,” ensures that evacuees and affected families receive hot food daily while they recover from the storm’s impact.

At the same time, the DSWD continues to provide food and financial aid to communities reeling from the twin typhoons. In Northern Samar, the DSWD Field Office VIII distributed 733 ready-to-eat food packs (RTEF) to families affected by Super Typhoon Uwan in Maravilla Island, Lavezares.

Each pack contained three chocolate rice (champorado) meals, two chicken rice (arroz caldo) meals, one sachet of complementary food, five canned tuna paella, one canned chicken pastil, one canned chicken giniling, and two high-protein bars. The food packs were delivered in coordination with the local government to ensure safe and timely distribution.
“These efforts are part of our mandate to make sure that no one goes hungry during disasters, particularly in hard-to-reach and severely affected areas,” the DSWD said.

Beyond food relief, the agency also provided financial assistance to families in Southern Leyte who lost loved ones during Typhoon Tino. Under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, DSWD distributed a total of P47,000 to four bereaved families — including two beneficiaries from Sogod, one from Liloan, and another from Libagon who received a guarantee letter for funeral-related services.

The DSWD reaffirmed its commitment to deliver timely, compassionate, and sustained assistance to all affected residents as Eastern Visayas continues its recovery from the successive impacts of Typhoons Uwan and Tino.

(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Morados is the vice commander of Philippine Army

TACLOBAN CITY — Major General Efren Morados was recognized as an Alangalang Outstanding Achiever Awardee 2025 during the 142nd founding anniversary of the municipality held on Nov. 8.

The award was conferred by the Outstanding Alangalanganon Achiever Foundation Incorporated, which selects distinguished residents who have excelled in their respective fields.

Morados currently serves as the vice commander of the Philippine Army, the second-in-command to the Chief of Staff, overseeing more than 110,000 military personnel nationwide.

In his acceptance message, Morados expressed pride in being recognized as a top achiever of his hometown despite being away for over 30 years. He left Alangalang after graduating from high school at the Leyte Institute of Technology, now Eastern Visayas State University, to enter the Philippine Military Academy.

“This recognition is not mine alone. It also belongs to the people and places that shaped me into who I am today,” MGen Morados said, acknowledging his former teachers, classmates, and the community that nurtured him.

He also encouraged the youth of Alangalang to pursue their dreams without limitations. “I encourage you and your parents to let you dream boldly. Work hard, stay humble, and never forget your roots,” he added.

Before his appointment as vice commander, MGen Morados served as commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade under the 8th Infantry Division in Catarman, Northern Samar.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)