Weather improves; Rody inspects flood-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte yesterday conducted an aerial inspection of areas affected by monsoon rains over the weekend.

This developed as the state weather bureau announced that most parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, can expect improved weather condition by the middle of the week as the southwest monsoon has weakened.

Duterte was accompanied by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad and special assistant Christopher Go as the presidential helicopter surveyed Metro Manila and Laguna at past noon.

The aerial inspection, which lasted for around 20 minutes, was cut short due to the expected onset of rains.

The President wanted to see the extent of damage, as well as check on the status of the Marikina River, Pasig River and La Mesa Dam.

Before the inspection, the President was briefed by Jalad and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo about the situation in flooded areas.

Duterte ordered the DSWD to ensure the safety of the public and the prepositioning of relief goods for over 80,000 people affected.

Duterte also asked Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol to give a report on the extent of damage to crops.

New LPA spotted

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) senior weather forecaster Jun Galang said the low-pressure areas and the tropical storm outside the Philippine area of responsibility, which enhanced the southwest monsoon in the past days, have moved farther away from the country.

“We expect gradual improvement of weather condition in most parts of Luzon, except in Ilocos region where the concentration of rains will go,” Galang said in a phone interview.

Classes were still suspended in Metro Manila and other areas, including Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Pampanga and the Cordillera Administrative Region yesterday due to the monsoon rains.

Galang said light to moderate rains are still expected over Luzon, including Metro Manila, today.

Galang said the weather bureau was tracking a new low-pressure area east of Luzon but based on latest forecast, it was unlikely to affect the country in the next few days.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the low-pressure area was spotted 890 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora.

Galang did not rule out the possibility that it would intensify into a cyclone while over the sea.

Tornado not unusual

Meanwhile, Galang said the occurrence of a tornado in Manila last Sunday was not unusual.

He said a tornado was also reported in Quezon City two years ago.

“It can happen anywhere in the country during severe thunderstorms,” he said.

Galang said a tornado happens so quickly that the radar does not have time to detect it.

“We can only do post-analysis,” he said.

80,000 people affected

Over 80,000 people from five regions including Metro Manila were affected by the monsoon rains, according to the NDRRMC.

Over 50,000 people are still in 104 evacuation centers in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), Western Visayas and Negros island region.

The NDRRMC said a total of P1,083,337.15 worth of relief assistance were provided to the affected families.

Two landslides in Rizal

At least 20 houses were affected as two landslides occurred in San Mateo, Rizal on Sunday amid heavy rainfall.

Georgina Garcia, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 4A spokesperson, said no casualties were reported.

Garcia said the landslides happened at 5:55 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. in Upper Patiis, Barangay Malanday and Marang Maly, respectively.

Meanwhile, three persons also went missing in Rizal amid the intermittent rains over the weekend: Rose Bautista, 12; Isagani Birac, 34 and his son John Carlo, 12.

Still in critical level

Despite the monsoon rains, the water level of Magat Dam in Ifugao-Isabela remained in critical stage.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS) yesterday said the water elevation at the dam’s reservoir increased by .51 meter from 158.83 meters last Friday to 159.34 meters as of 5 a.m. yesterday.

Rodolfo Mejia, NIA-MRIIS division manager, said this is way below the normal level of 183 meters.

A minimum of 160 meters is needed for the dam to continue generating electricity.

Agri damage

In Isabela, at least P800 million worth of corn and palay crops have been damaged due to the prolonged dry spell caused by insufficient rains.

A report of the province’s agriculture office said the damaged crops increased from P290 million last week to P800 million yesterday.

Berting Gorospe, a rice farmer of Cordon town, said the southwest monsoon only brings cloudy skies and small amount of rainfall to the province.

Reports said at least 21 of Isabela’s 36 towns have been affected by the dry spell, with Cordon, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Echague, Ramon and Santiago City among the hardest hit.

Isabela is the country’s number one corn-producing province and second in rice production, next to Nueva Ecija. – With Helen Flores, Victor Martin, Eva Visperas, Artemio Dumlao, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ric Sapnu, Ed Amoroso