The Compendium of Philippine Environment Statistics (CPES) is a compilation of environment and related socioeconomic statistics collected from various government agencies. The CPES has six components, namely: 1) environmental conditions and quality, 2) environmental resources and their use, 3) residuals, 4) extreme events and disasters, 5) human settlements and environmental health, and 6) environmental protection, management, and engagement.

The Component 4 of the CPES organizes statistics on the occurrence of extreme events and disasters and their impacts on human well-being and the infrastructure of the human subsystem. It has two subcomponents: natural extreme events and disasters, and technological disasters.

Subcomponent 4.1: Natural Extreme Events and Disasters
Natural extreme events and disasters organizes statistics on the frequency and intensity of extreme events and disasters deriving from natural phenomena and their impact on human lives.

In 2022, meteorological disasters such as typhoons, tropical cyclones, and southwest monsoon, among others, recorded the highest number of occurrences at 82 or 35.3 percent of the 232 total number of occurrences of natural extreme events and disasters.

Among the reported deaths on natural extreme events and disasters, biological disasters  posted¹ the highest number of deaths at 65,432 or 99.2 percent of the 65,936 total number of deaths in 2022.  These deaths were mainly due to the Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) with 65,385 deaths or almost 100 percent of the total deaths due to biological disasters. Meanwhile, meteorological disasters was the second highest at 457 deaths. (Figure 1 and Tables 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, and 4.16)

Figure 1. Number of Occurrences of Natural Extreme Events and Disasters,
2012 to 2022

In 2022, a total of 275.41 thousand houses were damaged due to natural extreme events and disasters. Of this number, 90.3 percent of the houses were partially damaged, and the remaining 9.7 percent were totally damaged. (Figure 2)

Super Typhoon Karding, which hit the country in September of 2022, left 108.92 thousand houses damaged, the highest recorded number among meteorological disasters. (Table 4.15)

Figure 2. Number of Damaged Houses Due to Natural Extreme Events and Disasters, 2012 to 2022
(in Thousands)

Subcomponent 4.2: Technological Disasters
Technological disasters³ organizes statistics on extreme events resulting from human intent, negligence or error, and/or faulty or failed technological applications.

In 2022, fire incidents such as structural, residential, and vehicular recorded the highest number of occurrences at 161 or 45.7 percent of the 352 total number of occurrences of technological disasters. Moreover, the total value of damages caused by fire incidents amounted to PhP 110.02 million. (Figure 3 and Tables 4.2.1 and 4.14.1)

Figure 3. Number of Occurrences of Technological Disasters,
2012 to 2022

The CPES follows the United Nations Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES) 2013. Among the 31 statistics identified in the FDES, a total of 17 statistics were compiled for Component 4 for this edition of the Compendium.

In addition, statistics under the Component 4: Extreme Events and Disasters are linked to several statistics and indicators in the Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Global Set of Climate Change Statistics and Indicators, particularly the thematic area on Impacts.

¹Biological disasters include epidemic and disease outbreaks, bird strikes, fish kill, and pest infestation.
²Not elsewhere classified includes maritime incident due to natural causes.
³Technological disaster is also known as human induced disasters.

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