Masbate under state of calamity due to Opong

Masbate has been placed under a state of calamity after Typhoon Opong left thousands of families affected across the province.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved Resolution No. 164-2025 declaring the province under a state of calamity, following the recommendation of Governor Ricardo Kho and disaster councils, according to the Masbate Provincial Information Office.

The move was based on reports from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), which recorded 16,302 families or 57,113 individuals affected, with numbers still rising.

Under the Local Government Code of 1991 and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, the declaration allows the province to use quick response and calamity funds for relief, rehabilitation, and recovery efforts. It also gives local governments authority to impose price controls on basic goods and provide access to no-interest loans for affected residents.

All local government units in Masbate have been directed to extend assistance to communities hit by the typhoon. —GMA Regional TV