Baguio City – More than 14,000 families have been affected by consecutive typhoons that struck the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in northern Philippines since November 11, officials reported Monday.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in CAR confirmed that 86 families remain in evacuation centers, while 328 others have found temporary shelter with relatives and friends following Typhoons Nika (Toraji) and Pepito (Man-yi).
In Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines, Typhoon Pepito alone displaced 54 families, according to local disaster management officials. The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office is currently housing 42 families, with additional evacuees taking refuge in a village hall and private residences.
“We continue to provide food packs and non-food items to support local governments,” said Maria Aplaten, DSWD-CAR regional director. She noted that her office is processing financial assistance for affected households and conducting psychosocial activities in evacuation centers.
While no casualties have been reported in Baguio City from Typhoon Pepito, local authorities are maintaining vigilance. “We cannot be complacent with calamities being unpredictable,” said Aileen Refuerzo, chief of the Baguio City information office, emphasizing the importance of disaster preparedness as more storms are expected.
Local government units in typhoon-prone areas continue to urge residents in high-risk zones to evacuate preemptively, prioritizing life safety amid the ongoing series of weather disturbances.
The Philippines, which experiences an average of 20 tropical cyclones annually, has strengthened its disaster response protocols in recent years, focusing on early evacuation and community preparedness.
