Environment

Japan Ready to Extend ‘Maximum' Help to Storm-Battered Philippines

Nalgae killed more than 100, drove hundreds of thousands out of their homes, and wiped out ¥3.32 billion JPY worth of agricultural goods in the Philippines.

Published

1 year ago

November 1, 2022

JAPAN Forward

People wade through a flooded street following heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Nalgae, in Kawit, Cavite province, Philippines, October 30, 2022. (© REUTERS/Lisa Marie David)

The Japanese government on Monday, October 31, expressed its readiness to help the storm-battered Philippines recover from the devastation brought about by tropical storm Nalgae (local name: Paeng), which battered all of the country's three major islands, submerged entire villages, and left more than 100 people dead.

*Tropical Storm Nalgae, in Gasan, Marinduque, Philippines October 29, 2022. Screen shot taken from a handout video. (© PIO/Handout via REUTERS)*

In a message of "heartfelt sympathy to the government of the Philippines and its people," Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi affirmed:

The Government of Japan stands with the government of the Philippines and its people, and is ready to provide the maximum possible assistance to the Philippines.

My deepest condolences are with the victims and the bereaved, and I sincerely pray for the speedy recovery of the affected people as well as the prompt restoration of the affected areas.

The message was coursed through his Philippine counterpart, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, according to a media bulletin from the Japanese embassy in Manila.

Japan has been known to quickly respond during natural emergencies in the Philippines, including the worst super typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) in 2013.

*Residents walk beside remains of damaged homes at Maguindanao's Datu Odin Sinsuat town, southern Philippines on Sunday Oct. 30, 2022. (© AP Photo)*

On the Ground In the Storm-Battered Philippines

Nalgae battered all 17 regions in the Philippines, affecting 618,817 families or more than 2 million individuals, according to the national disaster management office, as of Monday night.

More than 205,000 people remain in 2,801 evacuation centers across the storm-battered Philippines, their houses either sustaining damage or completely destroyed.

The death toll has reached 101, not counting the 66 who are still missing. More than half of the casualties died buried in landslides in the southern province of Maguindanao, prompting no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to ask if local governments had not prepared enough for the expected onslaught of the tropical storm.

Swathes of agricultural lands and residential areas saw chest-deep floods. In some areas, families had to be rescued from the roofs of their completely submerged houses.

The agriculture ministry estimated that at least ₱1.3 billion PHP ($23 million USD) worth of agricultural products were wiped out from 64,607 hectares of land. The livelihood of almost 54,000 farmers and fishers are affected.

Almost 200 roads and 72 bridges remain impassable. And the public works agency pegs the damage to infrastructure at ₱760.3 million PHP ($13 million USD). Electricity in some areas has yet to be restored.

*A jeepney wades through a flooded road following heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Nalgae, in Las Pinas City, Metro Manila, Philippines, October 30, 2022. (©* *REUTERS/Lisa Marie David*)

Long-term Solutions with JICA's Help

At the height of heavy rains and floods on Saturday, October 29, President Marcos met with disaster management and civil defense officials for an initial assessment of the situation. Nalgae had made landfall in five different provinces earlier that day.

The President was criticized by some quarters, however, because he joined the meeting via Zoom while the other officials were physically at the main military camp in Metro Manila.

*Rescuers carry a body retrieved after Tropical Storm Nalgae hit Maguindanao's Datu Odin Sinsuat town, southern Philippines on Saturday Oct. 29, 2022. (© AP Photo)*

Some social media users made wild speculations that Marcos was vacationing in Japan despite knowing a tropical storm was headed towards the Philippines — a rumor that the presidential palace denied. There were indications, however, that he was in his home province less than 500 kilometers north of Manila.

On Monday October 31, Marcos was back in the national capital, and inspected the neighboring province of Cavite, one of the worst-hit areas. Before distributing relief goods to residents, the President jokingly shouted at journalists, "Welcome to Hokkaido!"

*Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (© Aaron Favila/Pool via REUTERS)*

During a press briefing in Cavite, after having conferred with the governor, Marcos said his government would pursue "long-term solutions" to the flooding problem in Cavite, the most industrialized and populous province south of Manila, with help from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Japan's aid agency has been implementing two flood control projects in the area in recent years, one involving river widening, and another managing flood risk in industrial areas.

Author: JAPAN Forward