In 2021, biological disasters¹ posted the highest number of deaths at 57,544 or 99.1 percent of the 58,082 total number of deaths due to natural extreme events and disasters. Most of the deaths recorded were due to the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) with 57,517 deaths. In 2020, the recorded deaths due to Covid-19 was 13,421. Meanwhile, in 2013, the highest number of deaths was due to meteorological disasters². Typhoon Yolanda hit the country in November 2013, resulting to 6,300 deaths. (Figure 1, and Tables 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.15, and 4.16)

Damages to infrastructure due to natural extreme events and disasters amounted to PhP 35.45 billion or 58.4 percent of the total damages in 2021. This was the year when super typhoon Rai (locally known as Odette) hit the country in December. (Tables 4.13.1, 4.13.2, and 4.15)

From 2012 to 2021, the highest amount of damages due to natural extreme events and disasters was recorded in 2013, amounting to PhP 111.49 billion. More than half of this amount was damages to private/communication, amounting to PhP 58.19 billion. The second and third largest amount of damages were recorded in 2018 and 2021 with PhP 67.64 billion and PhP 60.68 billion, respectively. (Tables 4.13.1, 4.13.2, and 4.15)

¹ Biological disasters include epidemic and disease outbreaks, bird strikes, fish kill, and pest infestation.
² Meteorological disasters include typhoons and tropical cyclones, among others.

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, Ph.D.
(Assistant National Statistician)
Officer-in-Charge, Deputy National Statistician
Sectoral Statistics Office