Classes today in NCR, 10 provinces suspended
THE southwest monsoon enhanced by a low pressure area yesterday caused flooding in several parts of Metro Manila and in nearby provinces, and prompted the suspension of classes and work in private and public offices.
Today, work in government offices and classes in all levels in Metro Manila and 10 surrounding provinces are suspended. Malacañang said the suspension is due to continued rains and flooding in a number of areas.
The areas are expected to experience moderate to heavy rains today, based on a forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Covered by the suspension aside from the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) are the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Occidental Mindoro.
Acting Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said the suspension was recommended by the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Exempted from the suspension are agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services are exempted from the suspension and shall continue with their operations and render the necessary services while the suspension of work for private companies and offices is left to the discretion of their respective heads.
The combined effects of the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclone “Crising” which left the country on Saturday, have affected over 800,000 individuals in 16 regions, according to the NDRRMC.
The number of fatalities reported by the NDRRMC increased to five, excluding one reported Sunday by the Cagayan provincial disaster risk reduction office.
The NDRRMC said only two of the five have been validated — one in Camiguin and one in Surigao del Norte. The two others are from Northern Mindanao and one in Davao region.
MONSOON EFFECTS
Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, OCD officer-in-charge, said the NDRRMC recommended to Malacañang the suspension of work and classes in the 11 areas because these will experience moderate to heavy rains today as a low pressure area (LPA), some 1,220 km east of southwestern Luzon, is again enhancing the southwest monsoon.
“Actually, what Metro Manila is experiencing now is the effect of the southwest monsoon. It is being enhanced by the new weather system (LPA),” he said.
PAGASA, in a 4 p.m., weather update, said another LPA was monitored some 405 km east of Calayan, Cagayan.
It said Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Occidental Mindoro will experience monsoon rains due to the southwest monsoon.
PAGASA said Ilocos region, Benguet, Tarlac, Marinduque and Oriental Mindoro will experience occasional rains also due to the southwest monsoon.
Meanwhile, Cagayan will experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the through of the LPA off the province.
Visayas, the rest of Luzon, Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.
PAGASA said the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.
FLOODS
The NDRRMC said 301 areas in 13 regions were flooded. Of the number, 138 areas were still under water as of yesterday, of which 105 are in Central Luzon.
The NDRRMC also placed the initial cost of damage to infrastructure in five regions at P219.3 million.
It reported just one local government unit – Umingan town in Pangasinan – that declared state of calamity.
Diego Mariano, NDRRMC deputy spokesman, said at least 21 areas in Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, Manila, Quezon, and Malabon cities were flooded.
He said flooding was a high as high as 37 inches, specifically in the Regalado/SM Fairview area in Quezon City.
The National Capital Region Police Office reported flooding in Taguig, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Makati, Pasay, Marikina, San Juan, Pasig, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Caloocan cities.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported several areas experienced gutter-deep floods due to heavy rainfall.
In Manila, gutter-deep floods were monitored at España Lacson, Mabini Pedro Gil, Mabini going to UN, Recto Abad Santos, Taft corner Gen. Malvar, Leon Guinto Remedios to Leon Guinto Pedro Gil, España De La Fuente and Taft Padre Faura while half-tire level flooding were also reported in Kalaw Taft, Gen. Luna to Taft, Tayuman Abad Santos and Taft PGH.
Padre Noval remained flood-free.
Data provided by the MMDA Flood Control Information Center at 12:06 p.m. showed that as of 9:41 a.m., gutter-deep flood was reported on EDSA Shaw Boulevard underpass in Mandaluyong City but was still passable to all types of vehicles.
In Makati City, half-tire-deep flood was reported as of 10 a.m. along Magallanes, Pasong Tamo and half-gutter along Magallanes, EDSA Chino Roces northbound.
Half-gutter deep flood was also monitored at EDSA before Ayala southbound.
The MMDA said all those areas were passable to all types of vehicles.
Above-gutter and gutter-deep floodwaters were also reported along Andrews Avenue and Tramo as well as Roxas EDSA Heritage Service Road northbound in Paranaque City.
Floodwater was also reported at MIA Coastal intersection also in Paranaque City.
In Quezon City, gutter-deep flood was monitored at EDSA P. Tuazon Tunnel northbound and southbound, B/SB, EDSA Balintawak north and southbound and EDSA Dario Bridge northbound.
The MMDA said as of 11:04 a.m., half-tire deep floodwater was also monitored at Araneta Victory Avenue, both north and southbound and above-gutter flood as of 11:57 a.m. along E. Rodriguez-Araneta.
The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public anew against wading in flood water.
“We are at risk of leptospirosis. Even if we don’t have a wound, the leptospira virus that comes from rat urine can enter our eyes, our mouth, our nose,” Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said.
“It’s like swimming in a toilet when we swim in a flood. Let’s not do that,” he added.
He said another threat is trauma. “Maybe there’s broken glass, wire, sharp metal that we can’t see. If we step on it, our body might get injured,” he said.
Domingo also urged those in evacuation centers to maintain good hygiene practices to avoid diseases.
“For those in evacuation centers, it is important to wash your hands often because we don’t want our food and water to be contaminated and cause stomachaches or diarrhea,” he said.
He also encouraged the evacuees to maintain social distancing to avoid the transmission of virus.
AFFECTED POPULATION
The NDRRMC said affected were 225,985 families (800,864 persons) from 16 regions.
These are led by Central Luzon (80,532 families or 273,203 persons) and Negros Island Region (44,271 families or 166,005 persons).
The report did not mention any population affected in Metro Manila, where dozens of areas were reported flooded yesterday.
Of the total affected, the NDRRMC said 65,480 families (266,656 persons) have been displaced. However, the number was down to 22,592 families (90,835 persons) as of yesterday.
Of the still-displaced population, 5,921 families (20,115) are housed in 319 evacuation centers while 16,671 families (16,671 persons) are staying with relatives or friends.
The Quezon City government said 3,196 families (9,802 persons) have been evacuated as of 6 p.m. yesterday due to the inclement weather.
It said the evacuees are staying in 70 evacuation centers.
Peachy De Leon, spokesperson of the Quezon City disaster risk reduction and management office, said two children, aged 11 and nine, are missing after they were swept by strong current at a river.
She said their companion was rescued.
Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian oversaw the distribution of family food packs and non-food relief in evacuation centers in Balagtas and Bocaue in Bulacan and in Sasmuan in Pampanga.
Some P48.8 million worth of humanitarian assistance has been provided to the affected families.
Meanwhile, the MMDA suspended the implementation of the Expanded Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the number coding scheme Monday afternoon “due to the heavy rainfall brought by the southwest monsoon.”
The Supreme Court suspended work in all first and second level courts in the National Capital Judicial Region Monday afternoon due to the inclement weather brought by the southwest monsoon. – With Ashzel Hachero, Gerard Naval and Christian Oineza
