By Nimfa L. Estrellado A resident wades through shoulder-high floodwaters in Tagkawayan, Quezon, battling the deluge to reach safety on fami...
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| A resident wades through shoulder-high floodwaters in Tagkawayan, Quezon, battling the deluge to reach safety on family. (Tagkawayan Teleradyo) |
TAGKAWAYAN, Quezon - Despite the severity of Super Typhoon Uwan, the entire municipality of Tagkawayan, located in the southern part of Quezon Province, remains under a State of Calamity. The severe Category 4 storm battered the region, ultimately securing the local LGU’s successful zero-casualty response.
Sangguniang Bayan formalized the State of Calamity on November 11, 2025, via Resolution No. 257-2025, granting the LGU immediate access to crucial quick response and calamity funds. This swift action enables the local government to fast-track rehabilitation projects and utilize quick response funds for relief operations.
The one-year state of national calamity enables faster rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts and ensures support from government, non-government organizations, and the private sector. It also allows price controls on basic goods, grants no-interest loans for affected sectors, and provides protection against overpricing and hoarding.
In a Public Briefing on November 10, Mayor Carlo T. Eliazar confirmed that no injuries or fatalities occurred during the typhoon's duration. He attributed the success to the LGU’s early preparedness, beginning with the establishment of Incident Commander Bayani Garcia and EOC Manager Benilda Abrogena.
Preemptive evacuation began as early as Saturday, days before landfall, with many residents heeding the warnings from the LGU. Camp Management Team Head Rhea Rodriguez housed 4,099 individuals across 75 open evacuation centers before the EOC officially deactivated on November 11.
However, the storm inflicted significant damage on public services. The Mayor confirmed widespread power and telecommunications signal outages alongside the Sakang River overflowing and damaging the Tagkawayan Water District’s filtration system.
This disaster caused a loss of running water in local faucets, compounded by severe damage to the agricultural sector. Initial assessments revealed extensive destruction to rice fields, banana plantations, and vegetable crops, representing the primary loss to farmers' livelihoods in the affected barangays.
As of the November 12, 2025, update, essential services demand focus, with crews cleaning the Sakang filtration system and preparing the motor and pumps for full operation. The LGU provides free charging stations, but officials have yet to announce specific water distribution alternatives for the community while repairs continue.
The IMT began road clearing operations immediately after the typhoon subsided, leading to major thoroughfares being cleared by 11:00 PM. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) also reported that the major Gumaca-Lopez-Tagkawayan 69kV line received power, signaling the start of power restoration efforts.
A multi-disciplinary team from the Municipal Agriculture and Engineering offices conducts a Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDANA) to assess all losses, focusing on damaged crops, fisheries, and public infrastructure. While teams continue to compile final figures, local officials have yet to release official monetary estimates for the total cost of damages in Tagkawayan.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) announced a P379-million national aid package for affected farmers, including farm inputs and zero-interest loans, though they are still finalizing the distribution schedule for Tagkawayan. Mayor Eliazar renewed his appeal to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for assistance in tackling the perennial flooding in vulnerable areas like Landing and Tabason.
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