‘Dante’ seen intensifying into a storm today
THREE days after tropical cyclone “Crising” exited, one of three low pressure areas inside and outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) developed into a tropical depression and was named “Dante.”
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Dante, the country’s fourth tropical cyclone, was forecast to intensify into a tropical storm today.
“Further intensification into a severe tropical storm remains less likely but is not ruled out,” PAGASA said adding Dante is expected to remain far from the landmass.
Dante may exit the PAR on Thursday of Friday, PAGASA also said.
Crising and an intensified southwest monsoon have caused flooding, and a number of areas remained flooded yesterday.
Due to floods and heavy rainfall, Malacañang suspended work in government offices and classes at all levels today. The areas covered are Metro Manila and 36 provinces in nine regions, up from the 10 provinces on Tuesday.
The continued rains also caused the overflowing of La Mesa Dam in Quezon City and Upper Wawa Dam in Rizal province, PAGASA said.
The overflowing of La Mesa Dam caused the swelling of Tullahan River, affecting areas in the cities of Quezon, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Navotas, and Malabon.
PAGASA weather specialist Juan Paolo Pamintuan said the local governments of Rizal and Marikina City were alerted before the overflow of Upper Wawa Dam, leading to preemptive evacuation of residents.
Pamintuan said a gate of Ipo Dam in Bulacan was opened to release water as it was nearing spilling level, causing flooding in areas near Angat River.
Pamintuan said Ambuklao and Binga dams, both in Benguet province, opened three gates each over the weekend as they were also nearing the spilling level. Residents in nearby areas were also alerted about the release of the water, he said.
CLASS, WORK SUSPENSION
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in Memorandum Circular No. 90, said areas covered by the suspension order aside from Metro Manila are the provinces of Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Benguet in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union in Region I (Ilocos); Nueva Vizcaya in Region II (Cagayan Valley); and Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija ad Zambales in Region III (Central Luzon);
All provinces in Region IV-A (Calabarzon) namely: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon; and region Iv-B (Mimaropa) namely: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan;
Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes in In Region V (Bicol); and Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras in Region VI (Western Visayas), and Negros Occidental in the Negros Island Region.
Bersamin said government agencies involved in delivering basic, vital, health, and disaster response services are not covered by the suspension order and are mandated to remain fully operational to ensure the continuity of essential government functions.
Non-critical personnel may adopt alternate work arrangements in accordance with existing laws and regulations.
He said local chief executives in other regions not listed in the memorandum may declare suspension of work or classes in their respective jurisdictions, depending on local conditions, while work in private companies and offices will be at the discretion of their respective management.
He also said the suspension was recommended by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to ensure public safety amid persistent rains and potential flooding.
Malacañang has suspended work and classes in Metro Manila and nearby provinces since Monday due to the continued rains and flood.
FORCED EVACUATION
Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla asked local chief executives to implement forced evacuation of their constituents, if necessary, to spare from harm.
In a statement, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Remulla asked the local government units to “prioritize the safety of vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.”
Citing information from PAGASA, the DILG said, “Flooding is expected in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, and near rivers. Landslides may also occur in moderate to highly susceptible areas.”
It said Remulla ordered the PNP and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to support local chief executives in the implementation of the forced evacuation.
The DILG said the PNP and the BFP were told to “ensure orderly implementation and assist in securing evacuated areas and evacuation centers.”
Remulla urged the residents to “heed the advice of local authorities and promptly relocate to designated evacuation centers or safe areas,” the DILG said.
Over 4,300 families in Pasig City were evacuated from their homes.
Mayor Vico Sotto said that 4,084 families or 14,249 individuals are staying in the city’s 26 evacuation centers.
About 15 of 30 barangays are affected by the heavy rains, prompting the evacuation.
The city government is also providing hot meals and other supplies to the evacuees, including alcohol for disinfection and anti-mosquito lotions.
In Marikina City, over 4,700 families are still in evacuation centers in Marikina City as of Tuesday.
FATALITIES
The NDRRMC reported six deaths due to the weather systems — three in Northern Mindanao and one each in Mimaropa, Davao, and Caraga.
Two of the fatalities (one each in Northern Mindanao and Caraga) have been confirmed. The four others are still subject to further validation.
Six are reported still missing — three each in Western Visayas and the National Capital Region.
The NDRRMC also said some 1.2 million individuals have been affected by the combined effects of Crising and the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” as of yesterday.
The affected 362,465 families (1,266,322 persons) are from 17 of the country’s 18 regions, the NDRRMC said. The only region whose population was not affected is Eastern Visayas.
The three regions with the highest number of affected population are Central Luzon with 186,912 families (616,611 persons), Negros Island Region (NIR) with 44,378 families (166,335 persons) and Western Visayas with 37,148 families or 131,805.
Of the total affected, the NDRRMC said 71,781 families (286,320 persons) were displaced. As of yesterday however, the number was down to 19,515 families (82,335 persons).
The NDRRMC said 4,991 families (17,116 persons) of the still-displaced population are housed in 277 evacuation centers. The rest, or 14,524 families (65,219 persons), are staying with the relatives or friends.
FLOODING
The NDRRMC said 441 areas in in 13 regions were flooded. Of the number, 243 areas, including 172 in Central Luzon, were still under water as of yesterday.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said over 500 flooding incidents were reported and monitored in the metropolis.
But the number of flooded areas has dropped to 273 before noon yesterday, said MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes.
Floodwaters, he said, ranged from knee to gutter-deep, while there are still some areas with deeper flooding.
He also said the MMDA’s 71 major and minor pumping stations are working around-the-clock.
He reiterated the agency’s call for responsible garbage disposal and urged Metro Manila’s residents not to use canals, creeks and other waterways as their garbage bin.
He said keeping the metropolis garbage-free is not only the work of the MMDA and local government units but also the public.
He said the MMDA’s clearing operations on creeks and esteros such as the Tripa de Galina in Pasay City showed garbage such as discarded furniture, tree branches and other items are thrown in waterways.
He said those kinds of garbage could also damage parts of the agency’s pumping stations.
Artes, meanwhile, said the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme will remain suspended today.
Artes also said the MMDA is relaxing the enforcement of the No Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) amid poor visibility on roadways.
He said the agency would invalidate NCAP violations made by motorists in flooded areas of the metropolis.
“There will definitely be no apprehension,” he added.
But the MMDA chief made it clear that traffic violations and accidents will be recorded by NCAP cameras and validated.
DANTE, 2 LPAS
PAGASA said Dante developed into a tropical depression at around 2 p.m. yesterday.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Dante was some 1,115 km east northeast of Central Luzon or 1,130 km east of northern Luzon. It was moving northwestward at 20 kph, packing maximum winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
It said Dante was expected to move northward or north northwestward over the Philippine Sea Tuesday night until today before turning northwestward towards Ryukyu Islands in Japan and East China Sea.
PAGASA is monitoring two other LPAs, one of them is inside the PAR or 155 km east southeast of Basco, Batanes as of yesterday afternoon. It has a “medium” potential of developing into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.
The other LPA, which is outside the PAR, was some 2,705 km east of Eastern Visayas also as of yesterday afternoon.
In a press briefing, PAGASA assistant weather services chief Chris Perez said PAGASA has two scenarios when it comes to the LPA off Batanes.
One of the scenarios, Perez said, is that the LPA will continue heading towards extreme northern Luzon, exit the northwestern boundary of the PAR before intensifying into a tropical depression while at the West Philippine Sea.
“Meanwhile, scenario number two is it will be absorbed by the stronger tropical depression Dante,” said Perez.
Perez said Dante is expected to be some 990 km east of extreme northern Luzon this afternoon and 735 km east of Itbayat, Batanes on Thursday afternoon.
Perez said Dante is forecast to exit the PAR on Thursday night or early morning Friday.
“If we are going to look at the area of probability … it (Dante) has a low chance of making landfall or affect any part of the country,” said Perez.
However, Perez said Dante will enhance the southwest monsoon.
SUPPORT
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the President has ordered that transport, shelter, and food supplies be made available to affected individuals.
Dizon also said hundreds of buses and trucks, including those from the Coast Guard, Armed Forces, Philippine National Police, MMDA, and the Office of the President, are deployed on various Metro Manila routes to safely ferry commuters across flooded areas.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said at least 92,590 family food packs have been released since Crising started affecting Luzon last week.
Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the Department of Health has prepositioned P31 million worth of emergency medicines and logistics as part of a comprehensive public health response to safeguard the well-being of Filipinos affected by widespread flooding.
Domingo said among the prepositioned medicines were in regions I, II, IV-A, IV-B, VI, VII (Central Visayas), and X (Northern Mindanao).
He said the DOH has also prepared PP180 million worth of standby emergency medical supplies, including antibiotics, fever and pain relievers, oral rehydration salts, and herbal remedies such as lagundi.
He said DOH medical teams and LGU health workers are going to evacuation centers to administer medicines, monitor conditions, and prevent potential disease outbreaks.
POWER
The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said it has restored service to more customers, assuring the public its crews have been working round-the-clock to safely bring back power to all households.
As of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Meralco said it has restored electricity to the households of 77,000 customers, bringing down the number of people without electricity from 167,000 to 90,000.
Majority of affected customers were in Metro Manila, Cavite, and Bulacan, while the rest were in Rizal, Quezon, Laguna, and Batangas, and around 86 percent were in flooded areas, Meralco said.
“We continue to actively monitor the weather situation in light of persisting rains in parts of our franchise area. We ask our customers for patience and understanding as we have to prioritize safety during the conduct of power restoration activities,” Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications said.
“Rest assured that our crews are working non-stop to restore power service as soon as it is safe to do so,” he added.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said its transmission lines were unaffected by Crising as of 11 a.m. on Tuesday. – With Ashzel Hachero, Christian Oineza and Gerard Naval
