The sangguniang panglalawigan of Cavite unanimously approved on Sunday, October 30, the resolution placing the province under a state of calamity after it was hit by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng. 

The provincial board’s first special session was conducted via teleconferencing to approve Resolution No. 2195 -2022, authorizing  Governor Jonvic Remulla to utilize P50 million from the Quick Response Fund (QRF) of 2022 Provincial Disaster Risks Reduction and Management Fund for the relief efforts of the provincial government.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported widespread destruction of crops, livestocks and poultry farms in the towns of Magallanes, Maragondon, Naic, and Ternate. The river walls in General Trias and were damaged, displacing 4,000 displaced families or around 13,400 individuals.

Governor Remulla reported that 10 persons died and 60,000 families were affected by the onslaught Paeng. 

Governor Jonvic Remulla responded to requests from residents to cancel classes in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng to allow families to recover.

Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua, vice chair of the House panel on Metro Manila development,took a swipe at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for supposedly making a hasty recommendation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare a state of national calamity due to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng’s onslaught.

“It is a knee-jerk impulse that came with little logic,” he said in a statement on Tuesday, November 1. “This move of the NDRRMC adds basis to the clamor for the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience, which the House of Representatives has been in favor of for many years now. The House has been approving DDR bills [which] are later met by stiff but baseless opposition.” 

The NDRRMC’s recommendation, which the agency made on Saturday, October 29, while the storm was still at its peak, was thumbed down by Marcos on Monday, October 31, explaining that the extent of the storm’s damage was “highly localized.”

The NDRRMC’s system of reporting includes deaths that have yet to be validated. In this case, 79 fatalities are confirmed, while 31 are subject for validation.

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The Department of Trade and Industry reminded businesses to adhere to the Price Act, where an automatic price freeze is applied to basic necessities in areas under state of calamity.

Under the Price Act, basic necessities – such as canned fish, locally manufactured instant noodles, bottled water, bread, processed milk, coffee, candles, laundry soap, detergent, and salt – will have their prevailing prices frozen for 60 days.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health will ensure price stability for agricultural goods and essential drugs, respectively.

Business establishments found violating the price freeze will face a penalty of imprisonment for a period of one year to 10 years, or a fine ranging from P5,000 to P1 million.