Cebu Province Appeals for Coordination in Typhoon Tino Aftermath
The Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) is urgently calling for better coordination with local disaster offices to facilitate the deployment of heavy equipment to municipalities severely impacted by Typhoon Tino. The move aims to accelerate critical clearing and rescue missions that have been hampered since the storm hit.
Operational Challenges and Missing Persons
On Monday, November 10, 2025, PDRRMC head Dennis Pastor revealed that their operations are facing significant limitations primarily due to the shortage of heavy machinery. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, particularly in Compostela, where the search for missing individuals continues. "For us at the moment, we have a kind of mega challenge. The first challenge is to look for the missing — there are still 56 missing in Compostela," Pastor stated when questioned about the provincial government's equipment resources.
A major hurdle has been the inability to establish contact with the Liloan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO). Pastor confirmed that his team has been trying to reach them since day one of the disaster response. "We have been contacting them since day one. They cannot be contacted," he said, noting that while communication lines are partially restored in Liloan, operational coordination has yet to be achieved. This lack of contact is crucial as it prevents the province from determining where to send additional teams and equipment effectively.
Deployment Protocols and Private Sector Partnership
In a separate discussion, Aldwin Empaces, the Cebu Provincial Assistant Administrator, provided further context. He explained that Governor Pamela Baricuatro had actually ordered the deployment of the Capitol's heavy equipment as early as Monday, November 3. The Provincial Engineering Office initially dispatched four dump trucks to assist the Liloan local government unit.
However, due to the absence of specific deployment instructions from the Liloan DRRMO, the vehicles were rerouted to Compostela. Empaces clarified that this procedure is standard under Disaster Act 10121, where "the primary responders are always the local government units, even down to the barangay level."
To address the equipment shortfall, the Province is now turning to the private sector for support. Pastor confirmed that they are actively coordinating with private corporations that own the necessary machinery. "That’s why we’re coordinating with private corporations or companies who are into this business. We’ll be sending them within the week to the affected areas," he added, outlining a plan to reinforce their clearing capabilities in the coming days.
Debris Clearing Remains a Top Priority
Amid these efforts, debris clearing has been identified as a critical and immediate priority. Pastor described the accumulated debris as a significant health hazard that requires urgent attention. The Provincial Government has already deployed resources, including dump trucks, backhoes, and graders, to Compostela, one of the hardest-hit towns. Preparations are also underway to send additional equipment to other affected municipalities such as Balamban and Asturias as the province continues its recovery efforts in the wake of Typhoon Tino.
