By CHRIS PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The local government of Loreto in Dinagat Islands is racing to restore essential services and assist hundreds of residents reeling from the devastation left by Typhoon “Tino,” which battered the northern towns of the province early this week.
Loreto was among the hardest-hit areas when Typhoon Tino made landfall on November 3, prompting the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), chaired by Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr., to declare the entire province under a state of calamity.
Loreto Mayor Doandre Bill Ladaga also issued Executive Order No. 045, series of 2025, placing the municipality under a local state of calamity following severe damage to homes, infrastructure, and power lines.
As of November 7, mobile network services from Globe Telecom have been restored, while the water supply from the Esperanza source is back online. The Maribu water source, however, remains under repair, leaving several barangays struggling to access clean drinking water.
To address the urgent water shortage, Rep. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao of the lone district of Dinagat Islands launched a grassroots drive to deliver drinking water to the hardest-hit families.
Through her social media appeal, Bag-ao encouraged residents to bring empty containers to her home in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Loreto, where volunteers are refilling them with mineral water for distribution to affected areas.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) reported that road access remains limited. The Cambinliw Bridge is open only to light vehicles, while the Panamaon Bridge can accommodate motorcycles. The Busay access road via Barangay Diaz is now passable.
Power restoration efforts are ongoing, with 20 percent of the 30 damaged electric posts already repaired.
Initial assessments by the Municipal Engineering Office showed extensive damage in the barangays of Panamaon and Esperanza. In Panamaon, 283 houses were partially damaged and 27 were destroyed, while in Esperanza, 271 houses were partially damaged and 51 were flattened.
Damage assessments in the agriculture and fisheries sectors are still being conducted.
Health workers from the Provincial Health Office and the Provincial Department of Health Office–Dinagat Islands (PDOHO-PDI) have continued medical missions in the typhoon-hit communities of Barangay Magsaysay, Loreto, following the directive of Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr. to ensure that all affected residents receive immediate assistance.
The medical mission aimed to assess the health conditions of residents and provide free medicines, particularly to those who suffered minor injuries due to Typhoon Tino’s onslaught..
Authorities said the town’s most urgent needs include drinking water, food packs, roofing materials, tents or tarpaulins, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and vitamins—particularly for residents in the barangays of Gibusong, Kawayanan, Acoje, and Busay.
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