‘2025 among most disaster-prone years in history’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has endured what could be “one of the most disaster-prone” years in its recent history this year, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said yesterday.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Gatchalian cited the series of calamities that battered the country and left hundreds of people dead nationwide.

“This year would be one of the most disaster-prone years – from Typhoon Nando (in September, a howler with 130 miles per hour gusts and winds), to Ramil (in mid-October), two major earthquakes, cyclones Tino and Uwan and now Verbena,” he said.

During these calamities, Gatchalian highlighted the critical role of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s two main production centers in Pasay City and Cebu, which have sustained rapid prepositioning of relief goods.

“We can and we have automated 25,000 family food packs per day, that is our production output. The only missing link here is in Mindanao where we don’t have a resource center. It is because in disasters, speed matters,” the DSWD chief said.

Gatchalian also underscored the country’s vulnerability, reminding the public that the Philippines, situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, remains among the top five nations most exposed to natural hazards.

Recognizing the growing demands brought by climate-related events, Gatchalian expressed hope that the Senate would increase the DSWD’s budget by at least P32 billion, similar to the House-approved level.

He noted that half of the DSWD’s budget goes to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps program, which must be sustained.

The DSWD chief also outlined the agency’s disaster-preparedness strategies, including the Buong Bansa Handa program, and reaffirmed the President’s directive to ensure that “no Filipino experiences hunger” in times of crisis.

Gatchalian further emphasized the need to boost funding for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program to help families rebuild immediately after calamities, saying the proposal is now under Senate review as part of ongoing budget deliberations.

According to the Office of Civil Defense, Typhoon Tino has claimed more than 200 lives while government reports tallied around 30 deaths due to Uwan.

Meanwhile, the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu in September left more than 70 people dead, injured 1,200 others and damaged 185,900 homes.

The onslaught of Tropical Storm Verbena added to the year’s devastation, affecting tens of thousands across the Visayas and Mindanao.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the storm has impacted 275,458 people in the Negros Island Region.

Heavy rains and flooding also hit Caraga, Western and Central Visayas and Mimaropa, forcing 48,450 people into 469 evacuation centers.

Verbena likewise disrupted the education sector, damaging 24 classrooms and affecting 6.7 million learners, 303,290 personnel and 15,260 public schools across 11 regions.

In support of disaster-hit areas, the Philippine National Police deployed nearly 6,000 personnel for response operations, with 1,076 officers assigned directly to affected areas and 4,912 on standby as augmentation forces.

The DSWD, for its part, remains on high alert as Verbena affects more regions.

According to DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao, the agency has intensified operations under Code Blue status, distributing family food packs (FFPs), hygiene kits, kitchen kits and ready-to-eat meals to affected local government units.

In Bacolod City alone, the Negros Island Region field office delivered 10,000 FFPs, 250 hygiene kits and 150 kitchen kits, while the Caraga office provided 21 boxes of ready-to-eat food to stranded passengers in Agusan del Norte.

Dumlao assured the public that the DSWD will remain vigilant and responsive as Verbena moves toward the waters off the Kalayaan Islands.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the storm’s center was located 230 kilometers northeast of Pag-asa Island, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 115 kph. It was moving west at 15 kph, with strong to storm-force winds extending up to 450 km from its center.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Verbena will continue to track west to west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea and is expected to pass north of the Kalayaan Islands between Wednesday night and this afternoon.

The storm is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility today or early tomorrow. –  Jose Rodel Clapano, Michael Punongbayan, Bella Cariaso, Emmanuel Tupas, Christine Boton