Visitors at a public cemetery in Laurel, Batangas trudge through mud and debris to reach the graves of their loved ones on November 1, 2024, a week after severe tropical storm Kristine devastated the province. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA (UPDATED) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the observance of the National Day of Mourning for victims of deadly tropical storm Kristine on Monday.

Marcos lit candles for the victims of Kristine in Barangay Sampaloc in Talisay, Batangas.

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As part of the Day of National Mourning, flags will fly at half-mast at government buildings.

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“The entire nation is requested to offer prayers for the eternal repose of the souls of the victims,” according to Proclamation No. 728, signed for Marcos Jr. by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

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HOUSE JOINS NATIONAL MOURNING

House leaders joined the nation on Monday in observing the National Day of Mourning for victims of severe tropical storm Kristine, with House Speaker Martin Romualdez calling for compassion and solidarity.

“As we remember those lost, we extend our deepest sympathies to every family affected, to every community struggling to recover,” he said.

He also urged Filipinos to remember "that we are bound together, that we are a nation defined not just by resilience but by our deep compassion for one another.” 

House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre of Tingog Party List, for his part, said the best way to honor those killed by the storm and flooding is to learn from the experience, and to come up with ways to protect the people from such incidents.

He reiterated his push for a measure seeking to create a Department of Disaster Resilience.

“The perfect way to really recognize what has happened is to really work towards making sure that this does not happen again,” Acidre said.

House Deputy Majority Leader Jose Teves Jr. of TGP Party-List meanwhile, assured the public that the proposed 2025 national budget will look into how the government can help residents of areas badly affected by the storm.

"‘Yun ang pagtutunan natin ngayon ng pansin kung paano natin matutulungan at saan tayo kukuha ng budget para doon," he said.

(We will focus on looking at how we can help and where we can find funding for it)

Kristine rammed into the Philippines on October 24, forcing over half a million people to flee their homes, many of whom had to evacuate from flooding that some local government units said were unprecedented in their areas.

The storm killed at least 150 people and left more than a dozen missing after it struck some of the country's most populous areas.

Authorities also had to conduct rescue and relief operations in response to super typhoon Leon, which entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) soon after Kristine. 

Another tropical storm, Marce, entered PAR on Monday. It could reach typhoon strength by Wednesday, the state weather bureau said. — with a report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

Marce, PH's 13th storm, enters PAR

More details to follow.