WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Piece by piece, the nation is getting a clearer picture of the damage wrought by Typhoon Odette (Rai), which barreled through parts of Mindanao and the Visayas a week before Christmas.
Rappler brings you the latest from the people affected and the areas hardest hit by Odette, the Philippines’ 15th tropical cyclone in 2021.
Bookmark and refresh this page for updates on the death toll, government response, and disaster relief operations, as well as the power, water, and mobile signal situation, in the aftermath of Odette.
LATEST UPDATES
Typhoon Odette leaves over 30 Surigao del Norte reporters jobless
Local news reporters have been out of work since Typhoon Odette (Rai) ripped through Surigao City on December 16.
The typhoon that claimed lives and destroyed properties also suddenly left 30 journalists jobless in Surigao City and Siargao Island.
Marcos, Sara Duterte bring more aid to Southern Leyte, Negros Oriental
Presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte arrived in Dumaguete City on Wednesday, December 29, to deliver sacks of rice and water purification filters to Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo from their UniTeam.
Read the full story here.
Paperwork delays block Bohol’s plans to tap alternative power sources
Paperwork is delaying Bohol province’s plan to tap power barges to ease the paralyzing absence of electricity in 47 towns and one component city, Governor Arthur Yap said on Wednesday, December 29.
Appearing on the ANC program Headstart, Yap urged Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Agnes Devanadera to approve exemptions needed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and three power distribution firms to tap into sources other than the still-inaccessible flow from Leyte island.
Read the full story here.
87% of power lines restored post-Odette, but distribution a problem
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said 87% of power transmission lines have been restored in areas affected by Typhoon Odette, but distribution facilities need fixing before electricity can return to households.
NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Albanza said in a Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, December 29, that Negros Oriental, Southern Leyte, and Bohol still did not have transmission services.
Read the full story here.
Malacañang: Instead of buying firecrackers, help typhoon victims instead
Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles urged Filipinos to spend their money by donating to the victims of Typhoon Odette instead of buying firecrackers to welcome the New Year.
He made the appeal during his press conference on Wednesday, December 29, reminding the public that it is illegal to use firecrackers outside of the designated areas in their respective localities.
“Instead of spending for firecrackers that are prohibited anyway, just give your money to our countrymen who are in need… to those who were affected by Typhoon Odette. That’s where you should spend your money instead,” Nograles said in Filipino.
Duterte gov’t to release P4.8 billion to Odette-hit LGUs
President Rodrigo Duterte’s government is set to release a total of P4.8 billion in cash assistance for local government units (LGUs) severely affected by Typhoon Odette.
In a press conference on Wednesday, December 29, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the cash assistance is expected to be directly transferred to the LGUs within the day.
Target beneficiaries are low income families. Under the cash assistance program, P1,000 will be given per qualified individual, but only a maximum of P5,000 will be allotted for every family.
Bais City under state of calamity due to Typhoon Odette
Bais City council approves RESOLUTION NO. 476 S of 2021, declaring the entire city under state of Calamity due to Typhoon Odette's impact. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/OH0ChdBziz
— inday espina varona (@indayevarona) December 29, 2021
US announces P1-billion aid for Typhoon Odette victims
The United States on Wednesday, December 29, announced an additional aid of P950 million ($19 million) to boost relief and rehabilitation efforts in Mindanao and Visayas regions crippled during the December 16 onslaught of Typhoon Odette (Rai).
The announcement brings US assistance to the Philippines to over P1 billion ($20.2 million) through the United States Agency for International Assistance (USAID).
Read more.
In Dinagat, Robredo proposes relocation, rebuilding for Odette victims
During a visit to Dinagat Island on Tuesday, December 28, Vice President Leni Robredo pitched the creation of a new relocation site for victims of the typhoon who live in disaster-vulnerable coastal areas.
She proposed a possible partnership between her office and the provincial government for the creation of the site. The Dinagat provincial government has around five hectares of land that could be developed into a new residential area.
Residents living in areas that are hazard-prone could opt to stay and get help in rebuilding, but for those in vulnerable areas, Robredo said: “Pero ‘yung mga nasa delikadong lugar, mas mabuti na malagay sila sa mas safe na mga lugar kasi hindi natin masasabi kung kailan ulit tatama. Siyempre ayaw natin na sila ulit ‘yung malalagay sa panganib.”
(But for those living in hazard-prone areas, it’s better to move them to a safer place because you’ll never know when disaster will strike again. Of course, we don’t want them in harm’s way.)
The Vice President added they’d done the same in Bicol (her home region, which is also disaster-prone) and in Marawi, in the aftermath of the war.