Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong) swept across the Philippines in mid-November 2025, unleashing devastation on a scale that many residents and officials say they have never witnessed before. With a reported width of nearly 1,800 kilometers—stretching wider than the entire Philippine archipelago—the storm’s sheer size and strength left millions reeling, entire communities displaced, and the government scrambling to respond.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), as of November 19, the official death toll from Super Typhoon Uwan had risen to 33, though only one fatality—a resident from Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula)—had been fully confirmed by authorities. The remaining deaths, which included 20 in the Cordillera Administrative Region, seven in Region 5 (Bicol), three in Region 3 (Central Luzon), and one each in Regions 6 and 8, were still under validation. The storm affected an estimated 7,539,110 people, or 2,139,837 families, across 14,854 barangays in 16 regions, according to NDRRMC data.
Bicol was among the hardest-hit regions. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol reported six deaths in the region alone, detailing the harrowing circumstances behind each loss. Among the fatalities were a 74-year-old woman from Barangay Talin-Talin, Libon, Albay, and three residents from Garchitorena, Camarines Sur—a 43-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman from Binagasbasan who drowned in a storm surge while checking on their boat, and an 81-year-old man from Sitio Bayog who was found in a weakened state after prolonged exposure to cold and damp conditions. Another victim, a 66-year-old man from Sogod, Tinambac, died after falling while attempting to repair a roof battered by the winds. The OCD also cited a fatality in Catanduanes.
Displacement was widespread and immediate. In Bicol alone, 3,969 families—some 15,203 individuals—remained in 194 evacuation centers as of the latest report, while an additional 7,780 families (28,308 people) sought refuge with relatives. Across the nation, the NDRRMC reported 80,720 families in 3,169 evacuation centers, and another 118,356 families seeking temporary shelter elsewhere. The scale of the disaster was staggering, with 271,023 houses damaged and 25,764 destroyed across 14 regions, as the NDRRMC confirmed.
Power outages, communication breakdowns, and water supply interruptions plagued many areas, making relief efforts even more challenging. As CBC highlighted, Super Typhoon Fung-wong was “bigger than all of the Philippines,” its 1,800-kilometer breadth enveloping the archipelago and amplifying the impact on already vulnerable infrastructure. The CBC report also pointed to a confluence of factors—back-to-back storms, weakened infrastructure, and political controversy—that turned Uwan into a disaster waiting to happen.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. responded by ordering round-the-clock relief and rehabilitation operations, insisting that all government agencies remain on full alert. On November 18, the president visited Albay province, one of the worst-hit areas. There, he inspected the Cararayan-Naga Elementary School (CNES) in Tiwi, which had become both a symbol of resilience and a stark reminder of the storm’s destructive power. President Marcos interacted with students attending morning classes and oversaw the delivery of aid from the Office of the President, which included Starlink internet units for CNES and Tiwi Central School, as well as 343 school bags and snacks for children and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) beneficiaries.
The Department of Education (DepEd) played a key role in supporting learning continuity and school rehabilitation. According to DepEd Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Bernie Despabiladero, seven classrooms at CNES suffered major damage estimated at PHP 3.5 million, while eight more sustained minor damage valued at PHP 392,000. In total, Region V (Bicol) saw 807 schools damaged, with 5,742 classrooms either partly or completely destroyed. DepEd allocated PHP 326 million to address the needs of 1,319 affected schools in the region, with additional funds earmarked for clean-up, clearing, and minor repairs.
“We will not stop fixing schools, providing alternative learning methods, and restoring every child’s right to education safely and quickly,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara declared, underscoring the department’s commitment to both rehabilitation and learning recovery. To ensure the swift return to classes, DepEd pre-positioned Self-Learning Modules, Learning Activity Sheets, and Dynamic Learning Program materials in anticipation of the typhoon’s impact. By November 12, many regions—some of which had used schools as evacuation centers—were able to resume full face-to-face classes.
Efforts to support displaced families and rebuild communities have been multifaceted. The DSWD provided emergency cash transfers worth PHP 10,263, as well as family, hygiene, and kitchen kits to each of the 141 families whose homes were totally destroyed in Albay. Volunteers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs) conducted clean-up and clearing operations to expedite recovery. In education, blended learning setups—utilizing online lessons, printed modules, and SMS-based communication—were adopted where connectivity allowed, while temporary learning spaces were established in schools with major or total damage.
Yet, the storm’s impact was not just physical. The psychological toll on survivors, especially children, was significant. The government, through DepEd and its partners, provided psychological first aid to help students and teachers cope with trauma. The installation of Starlink units by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) aimed to restore connectivity and facilitate both learning and communication in isolated areas.
Super Typhoon Uwan’s devastation also reignited debate about the country’s preparedness for extreme weather events. As CBC’s Johanna Wagstaffe noted, weakened infrastructure and a series of back-to-back storms left the Philippines especially vulnerable. Political controversies over disaster response and infrastructure investments complicated the picture, raising difficult questions about long-term resilience in the face of climate change.
Despite the challenges, the collective response from government agencies, local officials, volunteers, and international partners has been robust. President Marcos convened a situation briefing with Cabinet members and local leaders in Albay, emphasizing the need for sustained, coordinated action. “We must ensure that relief and rehabilitation efforts reach every affected family, and that we rebuild stronger and safer communities,” he urged.
As the Philippines moves from emergency response to recovery and rebuilding, the scars left by Super Typhoon Uwan are a sobering reminder of both nature’s power and the importance of preparedness and solidarity. While the road ahead is long, the resolve shown in the face of this unprecedented disaster continues to inspire hope across the archipelago.
