Press Release
September 17, 2016

AFTER YEAR'S MOST POWERFUL TYPHOON 'FERDIE' THEN 'GENER' HIT BATANES, RELIEF AND REPAIR DONATIONS SOUGHT

MANILA -- After the year's most powerful typhoon Ferdie (international name: Meranti) followed by typhoon Gener (international name: Malakas) battered Batanes this week, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Saturday called for relief and repair donations for the most affected provinces.

Citing the September 17 report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Pangilinan said Batanes, which has been declared under a state of calamity on September 15, needs food items, potable drinking water, generator sets for water pump, transformers, galvanized iron sheets and other construction materials, and ropes.

"Donations may be brought to 46 A. Eugenio Lopez Drive corner Samar Street, South Triangle, Quezon City (about 100 meters from EDSA). For details, get in touch with Marco at 0998988546 or Nonna at 09183322954," the senator said.

"Maaaring 'di natin masyadong nadama ang lakas ni super typhoon Ferdie dito sa Metro Manila, pero ayon sa Japan Meteorological Agency, ito ang pinamalakas na bagyo ngayon taon at isa sa tatlong pinakamalakas sa record. At muli, tinatawag tayo upang magtulong-tulungan (We may not have felt the destructive power of Super Typhoon Ferdie here in Metro Manila, but according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, it is this year's strongest typhoon, and one of the three most powerful ever recorded. And again, we are called upon to help each other)," Pangilinan said.

"Ang balita namin, hanggang ngayon, wala pa silang kuryente (From what we gathered, they still don't have electricity)," he added.

The senator also sought for the immediate release and use of relief and calamity funds.

"Agarang tulong ang kailangan ng ating mga kababayang naapektuhan ng sunod-sunod na pagbagyo. Malaki ang epekto nito lalo na sa ating mga magsasaka na nasiraan ng pananim at mga mangingisda na hindi makapalaot dahil sa masamang panahon. Kinakailangang mabilis na mapaabot ang calamity assistance sa kanila upang sila ay makabangon muli (Immediate help is needed by our fellow Filipinos affected by one typhoon after another. This greatly affects them, especially the farmers whose crops have been destroyed and the fishermen who cannot go out to sea due to bad weather. Calamity assistance must reach them immediately so that they can rebuild their lives)," Pangilinan said.

The super typhoon disrupted the lives of 10,344 people or 2,710 families, who had to move to evacuation centers or with families, as 1,165 houses were partially or totally damaged, the NDRRMC said. Ferdie alone caused damages to vegetables and root crops in Batanes worth a total of P37.7 million.

Damage to public infrastructure included the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) building, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) office, Basco Central School, Batanes National Science High School, Provincial Capitol building, Sto. Domingo Church, and the Batanes General Hospital, including its administrative office and medical equipment.

On September 13, tropical cyclone warning signal no. 4 was raised over Batanes Group of Islands, and signal no. 3 over the Babuyan Group of Islands, signal no. 2 over Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and Northern Cagayan, and signal no. 1 over the rest of Cagayan, Northern Isabela, Kalinga, Abra, and Ilocos Norte, the NDRRMC said.

On September 14, after it made landfall over Itbayat, Batanes at past midnight, super typhoon Ferdie had maximum sustained winds of up to 220 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph by 7 a.m. As it passed Taiwan, the super typhoon gained more strength and had sustained winds of 290 kph, and gusts of 350 kph.

On September 17, typhoon Gener has intensified as it was located 350 north-northwest of Basco, Batanes. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow, September 18.

Over the past week, 16 flights to and from the provinces have been suspended, rendering the province isolated.

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