Typhoon Parma (known locally as Pepeng) moved into the South China Sea on 9 October, after reversing track twice over northern Luzon, bringing heavy rains to a far larger area than had initially been anticipated. The NDCC reports 2,267,527 people1 having been affected by Pepeng as of 11 October, with just over
100,000 people currently staying in 281 designated evacuation centres. This is in addition to the 4.1 million
people reported to have been affected by Tropical Storm Ketsana (known locally as Ondoy) which struck
Metro Manila and surrounding regions just over two weeks ago.
193 deaths have been confirmed by the NDCC in the areas affected by Typhoon Parma, with 46 people missing. Media sources report higher figures. Region I (Ilocandia) and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have been particularly badly affected. Most of the confirmed deaths have been caused by landslides in
Benguet province, CAR. Landslides have also occurred in Mountain Province, also in CAR. Latest reports
indicate that a total of 23,355 houses were damaged, of which 2,748 have been destroyed (mainly in Regions
I and II).
Pangasinan province in Region I was badly flooded, largely due to the release of floodwaters from the San Roque Dam on the Agno River. Dike systems were breached. Media reports indicated that as much as 80% of the province was left underwater. Most floodwaters in Pangasinan have now receded, but the Department
of Science and Technology reports that Mangaldan and San Fabian municipalities and Dagupan City are all
expected to remain under water until early next week.
Power cuts continue in Regions I, II and III and telephone networks are subject to interruption. Government offices and local disaster management authorities are operational, using generator power. Search and rescue efforts continue but access is still restricted by road cuts due to landslide and washed out bridges
affecting the national routes into Regions I, II and III. In total, the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government and regional centres of the Office of Civil
Defense report 1 major road, 51 secondary roads and 11 bridges affected by floodwater, landslides and
mudslides. DPWH continues to carry out road clearing operations on all major networks going to Regions I, II
and III; local police are managing traffic.
Relief efforts in areas affected by Typhoon Pepeng are being coordinated by the Department of SocialWelfare and Development (DSWD) from Tarlac City, (Region III).
