‘Nando’ causes flooding, P23oM damages in Pagudpud

On September 27,2025, Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director Laurence E Mina with his team visited the municipality of Pagudpud to conduct post assessment of the impacts of supertyphoon “Nando” wherein this municipality was one of the most affected in Ilocos Norte. Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito joined the team for the post assessment. (LGU Pagudpud photo)

By Dominic Dela Cruz , Staff reporter

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte—For the first time in the history of this town, a widespread flooding was experienced affecting 1,343 houses, which was almost the entire municipality, went under water as supertyphoon “Nando” lashed the province from September 22 to 23, 2025.

Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito said “Nando” brought violent winds and torrential rains that marked the beginning of its devastation of the entire municipality.

Reports showed that strong winds uprooted trees, toppled electric posts that caused widespread power outages.

Torrential rains likewise triggered severe flooding that submerged vast residential and agricultural area, business establishments and even government facilities while the storm surge from sea produced large waves.

Benemerito said Pagudpud is currently under a “state of calamity” with urgent need for food, sustainable livelihood, emergency shelter assistance, full restoration of electricity and communication lines including water supply, immediate rehabilitation of mitigating structures either totally or partially damaged.

With the extent of destruction and the continuing risks faced by the affected population and community, the mayor said the municipality is urgently calling for sustained support and coordinated interventions from government agencies, humanitarian partners, private companies and other stakeholders to ensure the protection, recovery and rehabilitation of Pagudpud.

As of October 1, 2025, the Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Council reported 18 totally damaged houses, 941 partially damaged houses, 1,343 flooded, 6 landslides, 211 evacuees, 5,683 indirectly affected for a total of 8,202.

However, no casualties were reported, and all major roads and bridges were passable by all types of vehicles. Power supply in the entire municipality has also been fully restored.

Reports also showed that the recent water service interruption is primarily due to the extensive damages sustained by the main distribution lines. These are the reasons for the temporary halt of water distribution to ensure repair, restoration and the safety of the water system.  

Damages were estimated at PHP20,435,272 for agriculture; PHP207,720,000.00 in infrastructure; and PHP2,289,950 recorded damages for business establishments.

Relative to this, Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos declared the suspension of classes in all levels both public and private schools across the province on September 22, 23 and 24, 2025. She also government offices.

Benemerito, for his part, declared the suspension of face-to-face classes on September 25 and 26. 2025 in all levels of both public and private schools in this town.

Benemerito said he believes that the declaration of state of calamity is necessary due to the massive destruction brought out by the typhoon.

A total of 204 families and 600 individuals from 10 barangays were evacuated.

The relief distribution to affected families after the typhoon was carried out to immediately address the urgent needs of the victims and help them cope with the devastating impact of the disaster with 5,828 families were provided food packs.

The Municipal Assessment Team further needs the following: appropriation of funds for the immediate repair of damaged seawall along Poblacions 1 and 2; emergency shelter Assistance to all totally damaged houses; additional food packs; appropriation of funds for the construction of drainage system in all low-lying barangays which are highly susceptible to flooding; conduct dredging on Mapacco Creek and Pancian River, Pasaleng River and Baag River, the Cabacanan River System and Lenned Creek; appropriation of funds for the immediate repair of Dakkel a Danum Dam at Brgy.  Saguigui; construction of flood control; rehabilitation of totally damaged road network, flood control at Brgys. Balaoi and Caunayan; and damaged school building at Pagudpud, National High School; and the provision of mobile satellite internet.

The Ilocos Times likewise learned that the Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director Laurence E. Mina along with his team also visited Pagudpud on September 27, 2025, to conduct a post assessment of the impacts of the supertyphoon.