10 reported dead amid Opong onslaught in Bicol, Eastern Visayas

Ten persons were reported dead amid the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Opong, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Friday. 

OCD Officer-in-Charge Bernardo Alejandro told Super Radyo dzBB that the reported fatalities were logged in Bicol Region and in Eastern Visayas. 

“Mayroon na po tayong updated figures, although subject for validation. Sa Region 8, mayroon pong nai-report sa amin na seven na patay, isang injured, and nine missing. Tapos sa Region 5, yung tatlong patay at isang missing dahil sa Opong,” he said. 

(We now have updated figures, although they are subject to validation. In Region 8, seven dead, one injured, and nine missing were reported to us. Then in Region 5, there are three dead and one missing because of Opong.) 

“Tuloy-tuloy naman ang ating monitoring at pagbibigay ng ayuda doon sa mga nangangailangan na region. So basically ang Opong ay Region 8, Region 5, 4-A, 4-B…so ayun ang mino-monitor natin ngayon,” he added. 

(Our monitoring and provision of aid continue for the regions in need. So basically, Opong is affecting Region 8, Region 5, 4-A, 4-B…so those are what we are monitoring now.) 

Further, the OCD official said that there are so far 1.2 million individuals affected by the storm. Alejandro added that they are expecting the figures to still go up. 

The OCD also said that there are currently no problems yet with the distribution of food supply in evacuation centers. 

“Wala pong problema in terms of pagkain at saka sa sapat na evacuation centers. Kasi as of now, talagang mga eskwelahan and some mga local facilities ang ginagamit natin," Alejandro said.

"Sa pagkain, nandiyan po, nakapag-prep na yung DSWD natin, nakapag-augment na tayo sa mga local government units, and tuloy-tuloy ang pag-replenish ng mga pagkain, itong mg family food packs na tinatawag natin,” he added.

(There are no problems in terms of food, and there are sufficient evacuation centers. Because as of now, we are really using schools and some local facilities. For food, the DSWD has prepared, we've augmented [supplies] to the local government units, and the replenishment of food, these family food packs, is continuous.)

Moreover, the OCD said that it has also prepared its air assets to deliver relief to Masbate, which is heavily affected by Opong. 

“Nag-ready na tayo ng air assets natin, nasa Legazpi ‘yan. As soon as mag-clear na yung weather, lilipad na ‘yun doon at magkaron ng aerial assessment at magdadala ng tulong sa Masbate area,” said Alejandro. 

(We've prepared our air assets; they are in Legazpi. As soon as the weather clears, they will fly there to conduct an aerial assessment and bring aid to the Masbate area.)

As of 5 p.m., Signal No.3 is hoisted over Occidental Mindoro and Calamian Islands, which are both in Luzon. Meanwhile, Masbate is under Signal No. 2. 

PAGASA said that Opong will head towards the West Philippine Sea on Friday evening. It may re-intensify into a typhoon within the next 12 hours as it moves over the West Philippine Sea. 

But the state weather bureau said that Opong will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon, September 27. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News