Marcos: No need to declare nationwide state of calamity due to Paeng

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Monday there is no need to declare a nationwide state of calamity in the aftermath of the wrath caused by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

Marcos made the response when asked about the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) to put the country under a state of calamity due to the devastation brought by Paeng.

"I don’t think it’s necessary. I came to that conclusion in consultation with DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). Sabi hindi naman kasi extensive, very highly localized ang damage," Marcos said at a press briefing.

(Damage is highly localized.)

"We’re talking about the East Coast, [which is] Quezon, [then] dito sa Cavite, and then Maguindanao. So those are the areas. It doesn't need to have...like in the Visayas, there's no need for a national calamity [declaration].  Regions 1, 2, hindi naman kailangan mag national calamity [declaration]. We will [be able to] focus better if we stay with the calamity status as we have now," he added.

(There's Quezon, Cavite and Maguindanao. In Visayas, there is no need to declare national calamity. In Regions 1, 2, there is no need to declare national calamity.)

A declaration of nationwide state of calamity would allow the local government units to tap the calamity fund to aid communities affected by Paeng.

Based on government records, at least 2.1 million individuals have been affected by the storm.

Asked about the cost of the damage resulting from Paeng, Marcos said the Department of Agriculture (DA) is still conducting an assessment.

"We are not yet done with estimates, but our latest figure is at P260 million," Marcos, who is also the Agriculture Secretary, said.

"Ang assessment diyan, hindi lamang kung saan dumaan ang tubig....kakatanim lang daw [ng iba eh] e. Planting season ngayon dito, so baka magtatanim ulit. So we have to see kung ano pa ang puwedeng buhayin, ano 'yung talagang hindi na kakayanin and we will have to provide agricultural inputs," Marcos said.

(We are still assessing. Others only just planted their crops, and it is still planting season, so they could plan again. We have to see if these crops can still grow, or we would have to provide agricultural inputs.)

"Malaking numero pa rin 'yung P260 million, at lalaki pa 'yan, I am afraid to say, as reports come in," Marcos added.

(That P260 million is still big and I am afraid it would still increase.)

Office of Civil Defense Administrator Raymundo Ferrer earlier said 16 out of the country's 17 regions are considered high risk for Paeng. 

Paeng casualties

As of Monday, the NDRRMC said a total of 98 people were reported dead due to Paeng, an additional 63 others missing while 69 more were reported injured. 

Based on its report on Monday morning, the NDRRMC said 53 of the fatalities were reported in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 19 in Western Visayas, 12 in Calabarzon, six in Eastern Visayas, four in Zamboanga, three in Soccsksargen, and one in Bicol.

A total of 1,953,814 persons or 590,990 families in 5,108 barangays in 17 regions were affected by Paeng, which is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday.

Of the total number of affected persons, 309,218 individuals or 83,243 families were staying inside 4,024 evacuation centers, while 666,156 people or 243,575 families were taking temporary shelter in other places. — RSJ, GMA News