Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua seeks assistance from the national government even if typhoon Bising did not directly hit his province.
Cua said on Monday, April 19, that Catanduanes continues to experience heavy rains due to typhoon Bising, which prevents people from resuming their sources of livelihood.
"Marami tayong hindi nakakapag-trabaho na tao doon sa bukid, sa dagat. Mga fishermen ay hindi makalaot. Yung mga magsasaka naman ay hindi makapunta sa bukid," Cua said during DZRH's Damdaming Bayan.
The governor particularly requested that the Department of Social Welfare and Development provide additional relief packs or food packs for residents, who had to evacuate due to the typhoon.
Cua previously admitted that Catanduanes has yet to completely recover from the damages left by super typhoon Rolly, which hit the province last year.
"Wala tayong mga savings dahil naubos last year, dahil sa Bagyong Rolly, kaya kailangan namin ang tulong ng national government," the local chief executive said.
As of writing, tropical cyclone warning signal no. 2 remains raised over Catanduanes.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warns that areas under tropical cyclone warning signal no. 2 might suffer:
- Light to Moderate damage to high risk structures;
- Very light to light damage to medium-risk structures;
- No damage to very light damage to low risk structures
- Unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses, makeshift shanties, and other structures of light materials are partially damaged or unroofed.
- A number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally unroofed.
- Some old galvanized iron (G.I.) roofs may be peeled or blown off.
- Some wooden, old electric posts are tilted or downed.
- Some damage to poorly constructed signs/billboards
- Most banana plants, a few mango trees, ipil-ipil and similar types of trees are downed or broken.
- Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken.
- Rice and corn may be adversely affected.
- Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some heavy-foliaged trees blown down.