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MANILA - Authorities are set to declare a state of calamity in Oriental Mindoro following severe tropical storm Tisoy's devastation, a local disaster official said Wednesday.

A state of calamity will allow the local government to tap emergency funds. This will be used for damaged crops, according to provincial disaster office head Vincent Gahol.

"Nakakalungkot kasi akala po namin kahapon wala kami masyadong pinsala. Kaya lang po nung pumasok po 'yung mga reports samin kagabi ay kailangan po namin magdeklara ng state of calamity ngayong araw," he told radio DZMM.

"Na-damage kasi 'yung aming mga palayan, pinasok ng tubig-baha. 'Yung atin pong saging, mga high value crops na pinagkukunan po ng pangkabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan talaga pong dapang-dapa dahil sobrang lakas ng hangin at ulan na binigay ni Tisoy."

The country's strongest storm so far this year left 2 dead in the province.

• Strongest typhoon this year: Tisoy leaves 2 dead, shuts Manila airport

Tisoy also triggered a power outage in the province and nearby Occidental Mindoro.

Occidental Mindoro, meanwhile, was plunged into darkness, with officials losing contact with residents of Sablayan town, according to Governor Eduardo Gadiano.

Oriental Mindoro's national highway is passable while provincial roads have yet to be cleared, according to Gahol. Occidental Mindoro, meantime, will clear trees felled by Tisoy on Wednesday, Gadiano said.

Some 19,000 individuals who fled their homes in Oriental Mindoro and 7,880 persons evacuated in Occidental Mindoro are set to return home on Wednesday, officials said.