Pepito aftermath: Catanduanes calls for help amid devastation

The aftermath of typhoon Pepito in Barangay Tambongon, Viga Catanduanes, Sunday, November 17, 2024.  Photo from Mdrrmo Viga Catanduanes Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — After receiving the wrath of Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi), Catanduanes is sending a distress signal amid widespread devastation.

Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua reported on Monday that numerous houses made of lightweight materials were badly damaged as heavy rains and strong winds beat the island province over the weekend.

Toppled trees and landslides likewise blocked access to many places in Catanduanes as extensive power outages gripped the province.

Cua called for urgent help from the national government and electric cooperatives.

“I saw some steelways in the barangays. The main roads are mostly affected mainly by landslides, but clearing operations by the provincial equipment and the Department of Public Works and Highways are ongoing on the main roads,” Cua said in mixed Filipino and English during a Teleradyo interview on Monday.

READ: Pepito makes landfall in Catanduanes

The governor said fallen electric posts resulted in the broad power outage.

“There is no electricity. The capital Virac has toppled electric posts, but not that many. In the northern part of Catanduanes, many electric posts were knocked over so we are calling on electric cooperatives from our neighbor Albay to help our electric cooperative here to quickly restore electricity,” he also said in mixed Filipino and English.

Cua appealed to the national government to provide hardware materials to help rebuild Pepito-hit houses and establishments in Catanduanes.

“Normally. if not money, hardware materials like galvanized iron sheets, plywood will do. Those are needed here,” he noted.

According to Cua, the Department of Social Welfare and Development delivered food and relief goods to Catanduanes via a C-130 aircraft from Cebu on Monday morning.

READ: Robredo calls for more support for relief ops in Catanduanes

Cua likewise said that despite the widespread devastation, Catanduanes has maintained a zero-casualty record from Super Typhoon Pepito, owing to the preemptive and forced evacuations of at-risk populations they implemented in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Army, and Philippine Coast Guard.

“We were able to implement preemptive and forced evacuations properly. That is why we are thankful to everyone who helped, and we achieved zero casualties during the onslaught of this super typhoon,” the governor said.

After its first landfall in Catanduanes, Pepito made a second landfall in Aurora and gradually weakened into a typhoon as it crossed Northern Luzon, but still expected to cause massive impact on areas along its path.