Philippines: Multiple Tropical Cyclones - Situation Report No. 4 (As of 25 February 2025)

On behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), this report is produced by OCHA Philippines in collaboration with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) and humanitarian partners. Reporting for this situation report this covers 22 January- 24 February 2024.

HIGHLIGHTS

• As of 12 February 2025, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reports that 3,261 families (11,747 people) remain displaced in the regions National Capital Region (NCR), 3, 5 and 12 due to the combined effects of the six tropical cyclones.
• There are currently a total of 49 evacuation sites open to provide temporary shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs) which represents only a 5.7 per cent reduction from the previous month.
• The series of typhoons resulted in personal losses of several Department of Education (DepEd) school personnel apart from damaged education assets. In order to support teachers in coping with external stressors, continued promotion of their well-being through psychosocial programs remains critical. • In the province of Catanduanes 16,000 farmers and fisherfolks affected by the tropical cyclones in 2024 were also affected by shearline in January 2025 which brought about more rains and flooding causing more disruption to the socio-economic activity in the province.
• Formally turned over anthropometric equipment (95 packs of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tapes for adults, 1,490 packs of MUAC for children, 20 pieces of infant weighing scales, and 45 pieces of length/height boards) to 15 target municipalities across the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Aurora and Isabela.
• The shelter cluster is facing a significant 83 per cent or $10 million funding gap. Only 3 per cent (985 families) of the 44,358 target families have received shelter materials to repair their either emergency shelter or enclosures.
• A joint WASH cluster assessment conducted last 13 February in Viga identified Barangay Buenavista, Botinagat, and Soboc as most affected. Urgent needs include water source rehabilitation particularly in Brgy Buenavista, hygiene kits, toilet reconstruction and local water testing. Damaged water systems and sanitation gaps risk reversing zero open defecation (ZOD) status in 25 barangays. In Pandan the main water source of a day care center was destroyed during the typhoon.
• A Response Portal has been developed to provide latest information on displacement, cluster indicators, response funding and cluster 3W.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The Philippines has been severely impacted by six successive tropical cyclones, affecting over 13 million people across all 18 regions. The 15 worstaffected provinces account for 5.9 million affected individuals, with 2.6 million people displaced. Some communities endured multiple displacements as storms struck in quick succession. More than 100 days after the disasters, most affected populations have returned home, but around 11,700 people remain in evacuation centres (ECs). Many returning households require shelter repair kits and other materials to rebuild their homes, while those in nobuild zones (NBZs) still lack relocation sites. Recent heavy rains have exacerbated the situation, particularly affecting agriculture, shelter, and WASH infrastructure, delaying recovery efforts.

The humanitarian response faces significant funding gaps, particularly in Food Security and Agriculture, and Emergency Shelter. Recent rain-induced flooding has worsened conditions, damaging crops and farm structures, with agricultural losses estimated at $243,000. Emergency Shelter needs remain critically underfunded, with an 83% funding gap.

Health and nutrition challenges persist, with the resumption of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities in Albay however, challenges remain in monitoring nutrition interventions and maintaining adequate resources for infant and maternal nutrition services, including breastfeeding promotion and emergency dietary supplementation.

Protection concerns include the lack of clear information on permanent shelter options for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lemery, Batangas and the need for stronger disaster response policies integrating protection principles.

Despite ongoing response efforts, significant funding gaps and resource constraints persist across all sectors. This has been exacerbated by the recent funding freeze by the US government. Continued collaboration among humanitarian actors, government agencies, and donors is essential to address the urgent needs of affected communities and support long-term recovery.