Typhoon Odette is shaping to be the worst ever calamity to hit Bohol with an estimated damage, initially assessed at P10 billion with 50 persons killed, according to Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto.
In a text message last night, Dec. 18, 2021, Pioquinto said that the damage assessment is not complete as there are towns yet to submit their respective damage cost report.
Gov. Arthur Yap, also last night, reported in his Facebook post that there are at least 50 people who died following the devastation brought by typhoon Odette.
In the said report, the governor provided a breakdown of the fatalities in each town that provided a casualty report.
The breakdown of the number of fatalities in Bohol as a result of the typhoon’s wrath is as follows: Ubay – 8, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia – 5, Loon – 5, Inabanga – 4, Catigbian -4, Valencia – 3, Tubigon – 3, Alicia – 3, Batuan – 2, Antequera – 2, Maribojoc – 2, Calape – 2, Jagna – 2, Lila – 1, Pilar – 1,Talibon – 1 , Loboc – 1, and Candijay – 1.
The towns of Dauis and Balilihan and Tagbilaran City reported no casualties to the provincial government, according to the governor.
As of last night, only 21 out of 48 local government units (LGU) in Bohol have provided casualty reports.
THE WORST EVER
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (PDRRMO) Anthony Damalerio described the impact of typhoon Odette as the “worst ever”.
The PDRRMO chief said that there was a delay in the rescue efforts at the height of the typhoon due to zero visibility. He even admitted that some rescuers had to be rescued as the situation caused by the strong winds became too difficult to manage.
Damalerio said Loboc town was one of the hardest hit towns as parts of the towns were submerged in flood waters. He added there were residents who had to stay on the rooftop of their respective homes awaiting rescuers.
The governor had appealed to those with rubber boats to lend their vessels to first responders who are conducting rescue operations in Loboc town.
STATE OF CALAMITY
Yap has placed the province of Bohol under a state of calamity following the massive damage brought about by typhoon Odette.
The governor issued Executive Order No. 65 dated Dec. 17, 2021, a day after the typhoon hit the province.
The governor has urged the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to pass a resolution adopting the declaration of a state of calamity in Bohol.
The typhoon caused massive flooding in some towns, toppled trees, and cut power and communication lines. The storm also left some people homeless after their houses got destroyed.
“We are doing what is humanely possible to help you. We are doing our best to make a rapid assessment of the damages and the situation you are in,” the governor said in a post on Facebook.
“Even so, we will do our best to have a rapid assessment completed by this weekend as we strive to get in touch with your LGUs,” the governor quipped.
“As we confront this tragedy, remember that we are going to do this together as one Bol-anon People. We must remember that we are all victims. You and I, have suffered greatly together,” the governor added.
“Many want to help us. I thank President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who will soon be in Bohol to personally assess the situation, as well as VP Leni Robredo who visited me last night [Dec. 17, 2021] in Loboc, in the midst of our operations to rescue hundreds stranded in the rooftops of their homes when the Loboc River suddenly rose by more than 15 feet on that fateful night,” the governor reported.
As of press time, there Is still no power in Bohol.
According to Betty Martinez of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), there is no estimated date when the electricity will be restored in the province.
NGCP is still doing assessment of damaged lines in Leyte-Bohol and in Cebu, Martinez told the provincial government.
Moreover, the total number of individuals reportedly evacuated from their homes is pegged at 26,807 persons, as of Dec. 17, 2021.
The communication systems in the entire province remain unstable. According to reports by the PGBh, only 20 police stations were able to provide reports to Camp Francisco Dagohoy as of yesterday morning, Dec. 18, 2021. These police stations which rendered reports are: Antequera, Loon, Maribojoc, Valencia, Panglao, Loay, Lila, Anda, Dauis, Baclayon, Corella, Catigbian, Tubigon, Calape, Albur, Pilar, Dimiao, Garcia Hernandez, and Alicia.
Moreover, the PGBh also reported that road clearing operations are underway with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department otPublic Works and Highways (DPWH) and Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) ordered to clear major highways in the province.
So far, roads that have been cleared from debris are as follows: Tagbilaran-Tubigon-Talibon, Tagbilaran- Balilihan–Batuan-Carmen, Tagbilaran–Loay-Loboc- Carmen, Tagbilaran-Sikatuna-Loboc-Bilar, Tagbilaran-Jagna-Alicia-Ubay, Tagbilaran-Dauis-Panglao, Tagbilaran -Cortes-Balilihan-Catigbian- Sagbayan -Carmen and all coastal, major provincial highways are already obstruction-free.
As of late yesterday, the roads which are yet to be cleared are Dagohoy-San Miguel-Trinidad, Carmen-Sierra Bullones-Pilar-Alicia, and Clarin-Sagbayan-Carmen.
ODETTE WAS NO ORDINARY TYPHOON
Typhoon Odette had a maximum sustained winds of 194 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 270 kilometers per hour, according to the report of the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAGASA) on Dec. 16, 2022 at 5 pm.
However, the typhoon weakened when it reached the vicinity of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia town at around 8 pm. At that time, the maximum sustained winds were at 185 kilometers per hour with gustiness reaching 255 kilometers per hour.
Reports say that the effects of the typhoon subsided at around 4 am on Dec. 17, 2021.
In the aftermath, long lines were observed in front of automated teller machines. Throngs of people were seen in grocery stores in Tagbilaran City purchasing mostly food supplies.
Several people flocked to places with power supply trying to top up their respective cellphone batteries the power has yet to return in the province.