A SEVERE tropical storm entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday night, about an hour after super typhoon “Goring” exited, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
The two weather disturbances will still enhance the southwest monsoon which will continue to bring rains in parts of Luzon and the Visayas.
It was the southwest monsoon that brought rains to Metro Manila yesterday morning, said Chris Perez, PAGASA assistant weather service chief.
The rains flooded many areas and caused the suspension of classes.
Malacañang late yesterday announced the suspension of classes today in levels, and of work in all government offices in Metro Manila because of inclement weather.
But Memorandum Order 30 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said government agencies involved in the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services.
Suspension of work for private companies shall be at the discretion of their respective heads.
The severe tropical storm, with international name Haikui, entered PAR at around 9 p.m. Wednesday and was given the local name “Hanna.”
Hanna will remain far from the landmass until it exits PAR on Saturday, Perez said.
Goring exited PAR at 7:50 p.m. Wednesday and was moving towards China where it may make landfall, said PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja.
In a bulletin issued at 5 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA said Hanna was some 1,035 km east of extreme northern Luzon as of 4 p.m. yesterday and moving westward at 15 kph. Hanna was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
PAGASA said Hanna may intensify into a typhoon within 12 hours but will remain far from the Philippine landmass.
“Hanna is forecast to accelerate west northwestward and exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday while approaching the Ryukyu Islands (in Japan),” PAGASA said.
Goring, now with international name “Saola,” was some 420 km west of Itbayat, Batanes as of 3 p.m. yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center, gustiness of up to 240 kph, and was moving west northwestward at 10 kph.
AFFECTED FAMILIES
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRMC) said the number of families affected by Goring has increased to 85,395 (305,481 individuals).
Those affected are from 1,152 barangays in seven regions — Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Of the affected, 18,348 families or 68,723 individuals are displaced — 10,468 families 38,021 individuals are housed in 469 evacuation centers and 7,880 families or 30,702 individuals are staying with their relatives or friends.
Majority of the affected persons are from Western Visayas. NDRRMC said 65,036 families or 236,219 individuals were affected in the region, of which 14,131 families or 53,624 individuals were still displaced as of yesterday.
NDRRMC spokesman Edgar Posadas said 353 areas, some of them in Metro Manila, were flooded due to rains brought by Goring. He said 18 bridges were “affected.”
Posadas said the number of damaged houses also rose to 247 while the cost of damage to infrastructure was placed at around P41 million.
DAMAGE
Initial cost of damage to agriculture sector was placed at P375 million, according to data from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center.
The agency said as of 1 p.m. yesterday, total cost of damage is equivalent to 15,856 metric tons (MT) of goods tended by 8,483 farmers in 16,145 hectares (ha) of affected areas.
The agency said that damage and losses in rice amounted to P241.8 million, P132.4 million for corn, and P715,500 for high-value crops.
FLOODS
The Philippine Red Cross said it deployed response teams and rescue boats to flooded communities in Metro Manila.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said its Flood Control Information Center (FCIC) reported flooding in several areas in Quezon City namely in E. Rodriguez Avenue Araneta (knee deep), Araneta-Maria Clara (half knee), G. Araneta intersection Baloy Street (knee deep), D. Tuazon-Quezon Avenue (gutter deep) and on Banawe Street corner Amoranto Street and Caliraya Road, as of 10 a.m. yesterday.
In Manila, floodwaters were monitored on Pedro Gil-Quirino Avenue northbound (gutter deep), España-Lacson intersection (below gutter deep), España corner Dela Fuente (gutter deep), Kalaw Roxas Boulevard northbound (gutter deep), España Boulevard Antipolo (below gutter deep), and Quiricada corner Abad Santos Avenue southbound (below gutter deep).
In Valenzuela City, flooding was reported along MacArthur Highway corner T. Santiago Cuevas and Dalandanan (knee deep), and at the corner of MH. Del Pilar Street and Arkong Bato (half knee).
In Pasay City, the MMDA said gutter deep floodwaters were monitored along Andrew Avenue and Tramo.
By 4 p.m., the agency’s FCIC reported that flooding in Manila, Quezon City and Pasay City has subsided. But several areas in Valenzuela remained under water, like the MacArthur Highway corner Santiago Cuevas and Dalandanan (half knee deep), MacArthur Highway-Footbridge Dalandanan ( gutter deep), MacArthur Highway-Wilcon, Dalandanan (below gutter deep), and bypass Veinte Reales (knee deep).
Earlier, MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said while the government has built pumping stations, drains clogged with garbage and debris continue to be a problem.
The MMDA operates 71 pumping stations which push flood water to the Pasig River or Manila Bay.
Artes said there is a need to improve Metro Manila’s drainage system as its design is outdated and incapable of holding a huge volume of water during heavy downpour.
The official said a 50-year drainage master plan to mitigate flooding in the metropolis has recently gotten the approval of the World Bank.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo ordered an early dismissal at the High Court at noon yesterday due to inclement weather.
Malacañang suspended classes in all levels and work in all government offices in Metro Manila from 3 p.m. onwards, due to inclement weather. Malacañang released a copy of Memorandum Circular 29 on the work and class suspension past 3 p.m. or several hours after some local government units like Quezon City and Rizal province have already implemented their own suspension orders. — With Ashzel Hachero, Jed Macapagal, Jocelyn Montemayor, Gerard Naval and Christian Oineza
