By Takzim Care Society
In early November 2025 the central and northern Philippines were struck in rapid succession by two powerful storms — Typhoon Kalmaegi (locally “Tino”) and Super Typhoon Fung-Wong — leaving communities across Visayas, Luzon and parts of Mindanao reeling from flood, landslide and wind damage. The back-to-back nature of these storms made an already difficult response exponentially harder: saturated ground, weakened infrastructure, and emergency services stretched thin. ReliefWeb+1
When and where they hit
- Typhoon Kalmaegi made its presence felt across the central Philippines in the first week of November 2025 (the system formed at the end of October and moved across the archipelago through 4–7 November). The hardest hit areas included parts of Central Visayas — notably Cebu and Negros — and several surrounding regions. AP News+1
- Fung-Wong followed days later (around 10–11 November 2025), tracking over northern and eastern Luzon and other regions and producing destructive winds, flash floods and landslides in provinces such as Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Ifugao and Mountain Province. Al Jazeera+1
How many people were affected — and how bad is the damage?
Estimates from government and humanitarian agencies show the scale was enormous:
- Kalmaegi affected around 2–2.4 million people (hundreds of thousands displaced, with hundreds of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed and wide power outages). Several hundred fatalities and many missing were reported during the first phase of response. ReliefWeb+1
- Fung-Wong affected several million people, with reports indicating over 5 million people living in the areas the storm impacted, and more than 1.4 million displaced into evacuation centres or temporary shelter in some provinces. Initial death tolls from Fung-Wong numbered in the single- and low double-digits in official tallies at first reporting, though these figures are expected to be revised as assessments continue. UNICEF+1
Large swathes of farmland and coastal livelihoods were also damaged. Rapid assessments indicate thousands of hectares of crops and fishing assets were lost or rendered unusable. The occurrences are striking at household incomes that were already fragile. ReliefWeb
Economic and social profile of the affected communities
The most severely hit populations are predominantly:
- Low-income coastal and rural households whose livelihoods depend on small-scale fishing and subsistence farming. Damage to boats, nets, seedlings and rice paddies immediately removes the means to earn daily income. ReliefWeb
- Informal urban dwellers in flood-prone neighborhoods and hillside settlements, who often live in housing that cannot withstand strong winds or deep flooding.
- Families already coping with other recent shocks (earthquakes, volcanic ash, inflation) are now facing compounded losses to shelter, food stocks and income. AP News
How people are coping
Survivors and local responders are using a mix of short-term coping strategies:
- Evacuation to schools, gyms and barangay halls; crowding in evacuation centres increases risks of disease and reduces privacy.
- Community sharing — neighbours pooling food, fuel and labor to help clear debris and repair simple shelters.
- Ad hoc income shifts — people temporarily seek casual labor, sell remaining livestock or tools, or cut back meals and non-essentials to stretch resources.
Local governments, the Philippine military and national agencies have mobilized for search-and-rescue, evacuations and emergency relief, while NGOs, faith groups and international agencies are providing emergency food, water, and temporary shelter. However, with two large storms back-to-back, logistics (roads, bridges, ports) and supply chains have been disrupted, slowing distribution. AP News+1
What survivors hope for
Across evacuation centres and damaged communities, common hopes are direct and immediate:
- Safe shelter — repair of roofs or materials to make homes watertight before the next rains.
- Food security and clean water — many families have lost stored food and safe drinking sources.
- Restoration of livelihoods — replacement of fishing gear, seeds or small grants so families can earn again.
- Faster, equitable aid — people want transparent distribution so the most vulnerable (elderly, mothers with infants, persons with disability) are prioritized.
How Takzim Care Society is responding — and how you can help
Takzim Care Society is preparing relief packages tailored to immediate needs on the ground. We focus on rapid, dignity-preserving assistance to families in remote coastal communities, mainly near Leyte and Mindanao where aid are hardly delivered.
What we will provide (per household):
- Food basket — one week of staple food (rice, canned protein, oil, instant porridge, dry goods).
- Safe drinking water — distribution of bottled/treated water and purification tablets where feasible.
- Portable stoves — small, fuel-efficient stoves so families can cook safely when utilities are down.
- Hygiene kits — soap, menstrual hygiene supplies, toothbrushes, disinfectant, and basic first-aid items.
These items are selected to protect health, reduce the burden on caregivers, and help families regain some normalcy while longer-term recovery plans are made.
Call to action
The people of the Philippines urgently need solidarity and support. If you can, please donate to Takzim Care Society to fund emergency food baskets, clean water, portable stoves and hygiene kits for families affected by Typhoon Kalmaegi and Fung-Wong. Your gift — large or small — translates directly into lifesaving supplies and hope for communities facing multiple, overlapping disasters.
How to help: contact Takzim Care Society through our official channels (website, social media or office) to make a monetary donation or arrange in-kind support. Monetary donations allow us to procure locally (supporting affected markets and reducing transport time); in-kind contributions are accepted where logistics allow.
