ILOCOS SUR, Philippines — Families whose homes were damaged by powerful whirlwinds in Ilocos Sur are beginning to receive government assistance as authorities step up recovery operations following a series of weather-related incidents that tore off roofs, damaged structures and sent debris flying across several communities.
The municipal government of Magsingal has distributed housing materials to affected families to help them repair their homes, according to the latest report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Government records cited in the report showed that at least 60 houses in Ilocos Sur were damaged or destroyed by strong winds.
The damage was reported as tornadoes or tornado-like winds swept through portions of the province from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, amid persistent rains and strong winds associated with the southwest monsoon, or Habagat.
Several towns hit by powerful winds
The incidents were not confined to a single community.
According to the Manila Bulletin, whirlwinds affected at least 10 towns in Ilocos Sur, including Burgos, Bantay, Narvacan, Cabugao, Sinait, Magsingal, Sto. Domingo, San Vicente, Santa Catalina and Caoayan.
In Cabugao, strong winds struck on Aug. 31, damaging houses, uprooting trees and affecting portions of the Cabugao North Central School.
In Sinait, a whirlwind was reported in Barangay Zapat, while several structures were damaged in other communities.
In Narvacan, beach cottages in Barangay Sulvec were damaged, with reports showing roofs blown away and some structures partially collapsing.
A separate tornado then struck Barangay Pudoc Norte in San Ildefonso at around 12:10 a.m. on Sept. 1, ripping off the roof of a house. No injuries were immediately reported.
Authorities rush to clear debris
Local disaster-response teams moved quickly after the incidents, conducting inspections, clearing fallen trees and debris, and monitoring affected communities.
In Bantay, personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office carried out clearing operations to remove obstructions and keep roads and public areas accessible.
The provincial government also continued validating the damage to determine which families would qualify for assistance.
Ilocos Sur Gov. Jeremias Singson said shelter assistance could include housing materials and financial support for repairs, depending on the extent of damage and the eligibility of affected families, according to PNA.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development also has an Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance Program that can provide needs-based assistance to families whose homes are damaged by calamities.
Thousands affected by continuing bad weather
The whirlwinds came as Ilocos Sur was already dealing with the broader effects of prolonged rains and the southwest monsoon.
PNA reported that, as of Sept. 1, about 5,026 families or 17,371 individuals in Ilocos Sur had been affected by continuing weather disturbances. National agencies and local government responders were distributing food, non-food items and shelter-repair kits as weather conditions allowed.
The Provincial Health Office was likewise providing medical consultations, checkups and medicines to affected residents.
Earlier, the Philippine Information Agency reported that Ilocos Sur’s disaster-response operations center had been placed under blue alert amid the effects of the southwest monsoon and Tropical Depression Pilandok. At that point, more than 4,000 families or 14,000 individuals had already been affected by the weather disturbance in the province.
Habagat remains a concern
The weather system behind the incidents is particularly important because the province was already experiencing repeated periods of rain and strong winds.
PAGASA reported that the southwest monsoon was producing strong to gale-force gusts over parts of Luzon and warned that coastal and upland areas exposed to the winds could experience particularly hazardous conditions. Tropical Storm Pilandok subsequently exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sept. 3.
As of Sept. 4, PAGASA was still reporting rainfall associated with the southwest monsoon over Ilocos Sur, with light to moderate and at times heavy rains possible in the province.
Recovery continues
Despite the extent of the property damage, no deaths or injuries had been reported from the tornado-related incidents in the latest available reports.
For affected families, however, the recovery could take considerably longer than the clearing operations.
With housing materials now being distributed and damage assessments continuing, authorities are working to help residents restore damaged homes while keeping communities prepared for additional rain and strong winds.
The incidents also underscore the vulnerability of communities in Ilocos Sur when severe weather combines with already saturated conditions—a concern that remains as the southwest monsoon continues to affect Northern Luzon.
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