Billions worth of damages were recorded and thousands of barangays were affected due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, authorities reported on Friday morning.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) disclosed that at least 1,262 barangays experienced the impact of the typhoon all over the country.
Around 107,535 individuals were rescued, including 3,811 in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The Department of Public Works and Highways also estimated that the initial cost of damage of Typhoon Ulysses on infrastructure reached ₱4.254 billion.
“Sa ngayon po, mayroon tayong 52 road sections na sarado pa sa traffic dahil sa landslide, mudflow, debris flow, fallen trees (As of now, we have 52 road sections closed to traffic due to landslide, mudflow, debris flow, fallen trees),” DPWH Sec. Mark Villar said.
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi reported that “the estimated number of Meralco customers without power is 501,272” as of 6 a.m. Friday which is “down from 1.9 million initially nawalan ng ilaw (without power).”
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana assured that government troops are currently helping in the clearing of debris and landslides in affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that the EDSA Busway, MRT-3, LRT-1, LRT-2, and PNR will resume operations on November 13. Seventeen ports were closed as of Thursday afternoon.
In response to the #NasaanAngPangulo trend, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated that the government has prepared for the typhoon and that President Rodrigo Duterte is consistently monitoring the situation.
“Hindi po dapat tanungin kung nasaan ang Pangulo. Iyan po ay kalokohan lang ng oposisyon. Ang Presidente po ay hindi nawawala. Palagi po natin siyang kapiling. Palagi po niyang iniisip ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan (The whereabouts of the President should not be questioned. That is just a ploy of the opposition. The President is not missing. He is always around. He is always thinking of everyone’s welfare),” he defended. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
