Philippine : Floods Cripple Metro

Major News of  <Manila Bulletin> :  Floods Cripple Metro

Nearby Provinces Also Paralyzed; Still No Classes In Several Areas By ELENA L. ABEN, GENALYN D. KABILING and AP August 8, 2012, 1:06am

MANILA, Philippines — Non-stop heavy rains reminis cent of tropical storm “Ondoy“ inundated many parts of Luzon and submerged 50 percent of Metro Manila, paralyzing traffic and forcing authorities to order the immediate evacuation of residents in low-lying areas on Tuesday.

Malacañang also ordered the suspension of classes and work in both government and private offices.

The impact of the bad weather prompted President Benigno S. Aquino III to convene the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to assess and address the situation.

However, President Aquino asked for patience from the public as helicopters could not be used for rescue operations due to heavy rains and strong winds. But he directed helicopters to be on standby should there be improvement in weather conditions.

Because of the massive flooding, there are still no classes in all levels in Malabon, Taguig, San Juan, Mandaluyong (including govt offices), Pateros, Laguna, Pampanga, Rodriguez, Rizal; Navotas, Makati City, Parañaque, Caloocan, Manila, Las Piñas, Marikina, Valenzuela (including govt offices), Biñan, Laguna; Ateneo de Manila, and FEU.

Areas now under state of calamity are Pampanga, Laguna, Malabon City, and Zambales.

The incessant downpours, set off by southwest monsoon and enhanced by a low pressure area (LPA) over China, overflowed major dams and rivers in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces and put authorities on alert. The death toll from last week’s typhoon “Gener” (international name: Saola), which battered Manila and the northern Philippines for several days, has climbed steadily to 53.

As of reporting time, massive flooding has already isolated many parts of Metro Manila, especially in the Manila, the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area, and in Quezon City, and some areas in Rizal province.

A separate report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) indicated that widespread flooding has been reported in most parts of Metro Manila, including Caloocan, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Makati, Navotas, Parañaque, Quezon, Marikina and Pasig.

The UN OCHA report also stated that flooding has also been reported in Region 4-A, particularly in coastal areas of Laguna de Bay such as Santa Rosa, Binan, Calamba, San Pedro, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Victoria, Sta.

Cruz, Lumban, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Mabitac, Sta. Maria and Famy – all in Laguna province, and Cardona in Rizal province.

Calasiao municipality in Pangasinan province in region 1 was also flooded, as well as, Bulacan and Pampanga in region 3.

As early as Monday night, the NDRRMC announced that residents of Barangays Tumana and Malanday were advised to evacuate due to rising water level at the Markina River. The same advise was given to those living in low-lying areas but many reportedly refused to leave evacuate.

With the roads rendered impassable, the military and the Metropolitan Manila Development Autority (MMDA) dispatched rubber boats to rescue stranded residents some of whom were trapped on the roofs of their houses.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, upon President Aquino’s request, allowed the use of 75 rubber boats it confiscated from the Philippine National Police (PNP) for relief efforts. The rubber boats, which the PNP purchased for P131.5 million in 2009, were confiscated after Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo questioned their acquisition.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has deployed 17 rubber boats, 20 military trucks and all other available assets to the affected areas.

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) was forced cut off power in some of the flood-hit areas.

Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said the power company cut power supply of some 380,000 households in Balintawak, Batasan, and Greater Fairview ­ all in Quezon City or about seven percent of its estimated 5.5 million customers severely affected by floods.

“This is a precautionary measure. We have to de-energize our facilities,“ Zaldarriaga said.

Zaldarriaga said Meralco has not yet pinpointed all areas affected because “we’re prioritizing the safety of residents.“ He also did not give a specific time when power would be restored in these areas.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said there was no storm in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Because of the incessant rains, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

ordered the suspension of classes and work in both government and private offices in the National Capital Region (NCR), Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan.

Ochoa signed the order upon the recommendation of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

However, government agencies involved in delivery of basic and health services, disaster response, and vital public services are exempted from the suspension of work and are ordered to continue rendering services.

PAGASA reported that the 24-hour rainfall recorded from 8 a.m. of August 6 to 8 a.m. of August 7 was at 323.4 mm, compared to the 455 mm recorded in 24 hours during “Ondoy’s“ onslaught in 2009.

PAGASA said that from 8:01 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, the recorded rainfall was 151 mm.

This brings to 666 mm the accumulated rainfall since August 1 or over the monthly average rainfall of 526.8 mm during this period.

Because of heavy flooding, commuters caught in stalled transport vehicles remained in their vehicles throughout Monday night, making major thoroughfares like EDSA, España Boulevard, Quezon Avenue, A. Lacson Boulevard, huge parking lots. Other commuters braved as high as chest-deep waters to reach their destination.

Thousands of residents from low-lying areas slept in evacuation centers.

Many cars were stuck in the muddy waters.

The La Mesa dam, which supplies water to the NCR, spilled excess water for a second time early Tuesday into the rivers flowing into Quezon City as well as the neighborhoods of Malabon, Valenzuela and Caloocan, where several villages were submerged.

Four of nine major dams of Luzon also released water. These are Ipo in Bulacan, Ambuklao and Binga in Benguet, and San Roque in Pangasinan.

Along the swollen Marikina River, police were deployed to move more than 5,000 residents away from the riverbanks in what Vice Mayor Jose Cadiz said was an enforced evacuation.

The operation started after the City Hall sounded the alarm bell. The water level at the Marikina River reached as high as 21 meters, way above the critical level of 18 meters. This prompted local authorities to raise Alert Level 4 and forced evacuation was enforced on residents living near the river and other low-lying areas.

The Philippine Stock Exchange in the financial district of Makati, which was also flooded, was closed Tuesday.

Also closed was the US Embassy along Manila Bay in the historic old city, which was drenched out last week when a storm surge pushed the water over the seawall.

“The embassy is closed today due to excessive flooding in the streets and concern for the safety of our employees and consular applicants,” Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte suspended session yesterday, delaying the vote for the controversial Reproductive Health bill.

The military, which is involved in rescue work, canceled several events due to the flooding, including an awarding of bounties to tipsters who helped troops capture al-Qaeda-linked militants.

In 2009, massive flooding spawned by “Ondoy” devastated Manila and the surrounding areas and killed hundreds of residents in rampaging flash floods.

Meanwhile, Globe Telecom, through its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility program Globe Bridging Communities (Globe BridgeCom), deployed “Libreng Tawag” services in areas severely affected by the heavy monsoon rains and floods.

Affected residents in selected areas in Quezon City, Marikina, and Navotas as well as bus passengers stranded at the Victory Liner bus terminals in Cubao were able to make free all-network local calls and text messages or twominute international calls to inform family and friends of their whereabouts and condition. —with reports from Anna Liza T. Villas, Ellalyn B. de Vera, Madel R. Sabater, Hannah L. Torregoza, Chito A. Chavez, Freddie C. Velez, Liezle B. Inigo, Nel B. Andrade, Aaron B. Recuenco, Rey G. Panaligan, Francis T. Wakefield, Ina Hernando Malipot, Anthony L. Giron, Jenny L. Manongdo, PNA, and MB Research. 

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