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Monsoon, Tropical Depression Dante to spawn more rains
MANILA, Philippines — Amid continuous heavy rains spawned by the enhanced southwest monsoon and the entry of Tropical Depression Dante, Malacañang suspended anew work in government offices and classes in all levels in Metro Manila and several other areas in Luzon and the Visayas today.
The number of fatalities due to the combined Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name Wipha) and the southwest monsoon has climbed to six, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin issued Memorandum Circular 90 yesterday afternoon suspending work and classes in Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, llocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur Catanduanes, Palawan, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Eciia, Laguna and Negros Occidental.
The decision was upon the recommendation of the NDRRMC.
However agencies responsible for basic, vital and health services preparedness and response duties must continue to remain operational to ensure continuity of essential government functions, the memo stated.
Localized cancellation of classes and/or work in government offices in other regions may be implemented by their respective local chief executives, pursuant to relevant laws, rules and regulations.
The suspension of work for private companies and offices is left to the discretion of their respective employers.
Meanwhile, the reported deaths include a 15-year old from Mambajao, Camiguin whose house was hit by a fallen tree and a 21-year old male from Mainit, Surigao del Norte, who was also struck by a fallen tree.
Other reported deaths in Northern Mindanao, Mimaropa, the Davao Region, and Caraga are still being validated along with the missing persons in Western Visayas and Metro Manila.
The NDRRMC said heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides in various parts of the country have so far affected a total of 362,465 families or 1,266,322 persons.
Of the number, 4,991 families or 17,116 persons are seeking temporary shelter in some 277 different evacuation centers where their basic needs are being provided for.
Hard hit areas include Central Luzon with 186,912 families or 616,611 individuals affected followed by the Negros Island Region (NIR) with 44,378 families or 166,335 persons and Western Visayas with 37,148 families or 131,805 individuals.
As of yesterday, the NDRRMC reported a total of 1,501 damaged houses in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, BARMM, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and NIR.
Estimated damage to agriculture in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon Mimaropa and NIR has so far been placed at more than P54.067 million.
The NDRRMC said estimated damage to infrastructure has now reached more than P413 million in the Ilocos, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and CAR.
Total cost of assistance given to affected families and communities across the country is currently at more than P61.3 million.
Flight cancellations
Seven international and 39 domestic flights were canceled while three were diverted as of 4 p.m. yesterday due to adverse weather conditions in the regions brought by the southwest monsoon.
Meanwhile, two commercial domestic flights and one private medic aircraft were diverted to other airports.
Persistent flooding
Heavy rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon triggered widespread flooding in parts of Metro Manila yesterday, prompting mass evacuations and affecting dozens of roads across Makati, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Manila and Camanava.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla yesterday ordered a forced evacuation of residents living in areas affected by the southwest monsoon.
Remulla said local government units should prioritize the safety of children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and people from other vulnerable groups.
He also directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection to assist LGUs in the orderly implementation of the forced evacuation.
PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said they deployed around 3,000 police officers for disaster response operations in the affected areas.
He added that PNP personnel have rescued 276 people and assisted 35,000 persons staying in evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, 672 police officers were also affected by the heavy rains, Torre said.
In Parañaque, at least 1,073 families sought shelter in 12 evacuation centers as floodwaters rendered 22 roads impassable and eight others impassable to light vehicles, according to the city government. A total of 31 areas experienced flooding.
In Makati, 32 roads were reported flooded with water levels ranging from four inches to as high as 42 inches.
The city’s disaster response office said seven families composed of 14 individuals have taken temporary shelter at the San Antonio Covered Court.
Pasay also reported persistent flooding in five barangays as of 9 a.m. To assist affected residents, the local government distributed relief packs in evacuation centers, which had been prepositioned before the rainy season.
In Pasig, more than 15,000 individuals sought shelter in evacuation centers across the city as persistent monsoon rains inundated residential communities, local officials said.
As of noon, at least 4,359 families or 15,335 individuals were staying in 26 evacuation centers set up in 15 barangays, according to the city’s disaster risk reduction and management office.
In Manila, numerous streets across Tondo, Sampaloc, Malate, Ermita, and Sta. Mesa were submerged, with water levels ranging from gutter-deep to waist-deep. Several of these areas were not passable to light or all vehicles.
Likewise, thousands of residents across Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela were forced to evacuate.
“There were 21 barangays affected by flooding,” Caloocan Mayor Along Malapitan said in an interview with dzRH.
In Malabon, 893 families from 18 barangays were evacuated. Flooding in parts of the city was exacerbated by high tide and the overflow of La Mesa Dam.
While water levels along the Tullahan River have subsided, several areas remain impassable to light vehicles.
A fatality was reported in Barangay Potrero where a resident was electrocuted while evacuating, according to city officials.
In Navotas, 148 families or over 400 individuals were sheltered in evacuation centers across eight barangays. While the situation was described as “manageable,” some areas remained flooded due to high tides and heavy rainfall.
Valenzuela City reported the highest number of evacuees in the region. As of Tuesday morning, 1,876 families were taking shelter in 52 evacuation centers across the city, according to data from the social welfare and development office.
Mayor Wes Gatchalian said flooding significantly affected 22 of the city’s 33 barangays, although only certain parts of each barangay were inundated.
Collectively, the number of flood incidents in Metro Manila dropped to 273 as of 11 a.m. yesterday from over 500 reported within the previous 24 hours, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
In a virtual press briefing, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said water levels in affected areas varied, with more than 200 locations already cleared of floodwaters.
Artes also urged the public to practice proper waste disposal as garbage contributed to severe flooding in many areas. He said there were areas where the agency found large amounts of garbage, including items like a sofa and a refrigerator, that clogged the drainage system.
While the No Contact Apprehension Policy remained in effect, Artes clarified that violations captured during severe weather conditions undergo manual review.
Meanwhile, overflowing rivers and creeks caused portions of the North Luzon Expressway in Valenzuela and Meycauyan Cities to be inundated with floodwater on Monday night.
Power outage
The number of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) customers affected by power interruptions has decreased to around 90,000 from a peak of over 167,000 amid flooding caused by monsoon rains.
Meralco reported that as of 2 p.m. yesterday, 86 percent of the affected customers were in areas submerged by floodwaters.
Most of these households were in Metro Manila, Cavite and Bulacan, while the rest were in Rizal, Quezon, Laguna and Batangas.
Tropical depression Dante
A low-pressure area east of Aurora has developed into tropical depression Dante, the state weather bureau announced yesterday, as it warned of heavy rains and strong winds in parts of the country due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of Dante was located 1,115 kilometers east northeast of Central Luzon or 1,130 kilometers east of Northern Luzon. It is moving north-northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour.
Dante is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts reaching up to 55 kph. Strong winds extend outward up to 220 kilometers from the center.
No tropical cyclone wind signal has been raised so far. However, PAGASA warned that Dante is enhancing the southwest monsoon, which is expected to bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds to several regions. — Rudy Santos, Mark Ernest Villeza, Christine Boton, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Emmanuel Tupas, Rhodina Villanueva, Jose Rodel Clapano
