Several days after Super Typhoon Uwan struck Catanduanes on November 9, 2025, residents of Pandan town are struggling to rebuild over 3,500 homes destroyed across 26 villages. Local authorities are appealing for external aid as their resources fall short in addressing victims' needs. The damage is far worse than that from Super Typhoon Pepito in 2024, officials say.
Super Typhoon Uwan made landfall in Catanduanes on November 9, 2025, leaving widespread devastation in Pandan town. According to the Pandan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), over 3,500 homes were destroyed across 26 villages, with estimated structural damage of nearly P232 million. In Barangay Del Sur alone, 17 households were fully destroyed and another 131 damaged.
Among the affected is Leo Yayong De Quiros, whose house and belongings were completely wiped out. “Everything my parents worked so hard to build and save is gone. That’s why it’s so hard for us to recover and get back on our feet. We were shocked to see the entire house completely destroyed,” he said in Filipino. His family is now staying with relatives, as the local evacuation center has been decamped.
Cynthia Bernardino, executive assistant to the Pandan mayor, stated that Uwan's impact was worse than Super Typhoon Pepito in 2024 due to a stronger storm surge that washed away homes in areas like Baldoc, Del Sur, and Del Norte. “The damage from Uwan was far worse than from Pepito, as the storm surge was much stronger, washing away many houses in the areas of Baldoc, Del Sur, and Del Norte,” she said.
While the local government has initiated relief efforts, assistance remains insufficient. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has sent over 2,000 relief packs, and the provincial government provided 150 sacks of rice. The town is planning to purchase additional rice worth P500,000, but aid is still needed for over 5,000 households.
Catanduanes Governor Patrick Azanza warned that the prepositioned 19,000 food packs from DSWD are not enough for nearly 90,000 affected residents province-wide. “Many also need galvanized iron sheets, nails, and plywood to repair their damaged houses or rebuild,” he said in Filipino. Support is also requested for exhausted responders working 24/7 since the typhoon struck.