Monsoon deaths hit 43

MANILA, Philippines - The death toll from heavy rains and floods spawned by the southwest monsoon rose to 43 yesterday, reports from disaster management field units showed.

In Central Luzon, 19 people were reported dead, mostly due to drowning. Five were from Bataan, seven from Bulacan, six from Pampanga and one from Zambales.

The fatalities in Bataan were identified as Alex Augusto, 35; Richard Catli, 22; Juanito Mangila, 70; and Clarita Olarte who all drowned, and Marcelino Penaflor who suffered cardiac arrest.

The six persons who died in Pampanga were Jaygy Cunanan, 20 and Darel Flores, 9, who were electrocuted; Tracy Estrella, 11, Renato Fan, 30, Michael Gatdula, 12, and Stephanie Marquez, 3, who drowned. In Bulacan, seven persons drowned, namely Roy Cailan, 47, Jomar Laluan, 20, Danilo Lopez, Angelita Quinto, 60, Erjan Roque, 47, one-month-old infant Ralyn Cunin, and six-month-old infant Exier Langres.

Ariem Menes, 19, also drowned in Zambales.

The Office of Civil Defense National Capital Region (OCD-NCR) said a total of 17 people died in Metro Manila.

Nine of them died in a landslide in Barangay Commonwealth in Quezon City last Tuesday. They were identified as Jayson Baylon, 16, Jayvee Baylon, 20, Jissele Baylon, 7, Cecilia Baylon, 50, Jonathan Castulo, 3, three-week-old infant Junica Castulo, and Jessica Baylon, Jethro Baylon and Joshua Castulo whose ages remain undetermined.

At least two died in Caloocan City, namely Irene Cabarubias, 4, who drowned, and an unidentified person who was hit by a falling electric post. The OCD-NCR is still verifying reports that a 28-year-old male also died because of the floods.

Four others drowned in Malabon, namely Ely Perez, Diego San Jose, Evelyn Severo and an unidentified man. Ronald Vasquez, 33, also drowned in Manila.

Authorities reported Roel Fabros drowned in Valenzuela. The police also reported that an unidentified woman drowned in San Jacinto, Pangasinan.

Six fatalities were recorded in Calabarzon. Police reported that three persons drowned in Taytay, Rizal: Noel Garde, 14, Christian Garde, 12, and Nicolas Costa, 12. 

An unidentified body was also recovered in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Marie Pansipane, 7, and her sister Ana Mae Pansipane, whose age remains undetermined, of barrio Ulanggo in Tanauan, Batangas drowned while crossing a river.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 2.11 million persons have been affected by the southwest monsoon. NDRRMC said 580,445 people have been evacuated and 314,795 residents are now inside 630 evacuation centers in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Laguna.

Some 3,035 houses were damaged in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Western Visayas.

The NDRRMC said the amount of assistance provided by the government, local officials and non-government organizations to disaster operations has reached P126.66 million.

Parts of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa have been placed under a state of calamity, including Malabon, Navotas, San Juan, Manila, Pasay, Valenzuela, Marikina, Pasig, Pateros, and Muntinlupa in Metro Manila; Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Bulacan, and Olongapo City in Central Luzon; Rizal, Laguna, Cavite in Calabarzon and parts of Palawan, namely Culion, El Nido and Linacapan in Mimaropa region and Pangasinan.

The Taguig City council will hold a special session today, hoping to pass a resolution placing the city under a state of calamity.

“I appeal to our City Council to immediately place Taguig under a state of calamity so we can tap our Quick Response Fund. In these trying times, we should set aside any political differences. This is the time our constituents need our support the most and we should not forsake them,” Mayor Laarni Cayetano said in a statement.

Once passed, the resolution will allow Cayetano to tap the calamity funds and control market prices from going up. 

As of Thursday, the city recorded 2,714 family-evacuees or 10,430 individuals. 

Ronald Galicia, head of the city rescue unit, said the number increased from 1,700 on Wednesday as floodwaters continued to rise. Eighteen of the 28 barangays are now affected by the floodwaters. 

Classes in Taguig in all levels in both private and public schools will remain suspended today.

Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian suspended classes in all levels in public and private schools in the city today. Six barangays in Valenzuela are still flooded.

Classes in all levels were also suspended today in Pasay, Mandaluyong, Malabon, Navotas, Pateros, Marikina, Caloocan, Quezon City, Parañaque, Pasig, San Juan in Metro Manila. Manila suspended classes in all levels in all public schools only.

Classes were also suspended in all levels in Pangasinan. 

Classes suspended until Saturday and will resume on Monday at De La Salle University-Manila, Far Eastern University (all campuses), University of Santo Tomas, Miriam College, Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo Law School will resume classes today), Adamson University-Manila, St. Paul College-Quezon City, Letran-Manila, Philippine Women’s University, San Beda College (Manila and Rizal campuses), Malabon City University, Malabon Polytechnic Institute, Bataan Peninsula State University, National Teachers College. 

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima deployed additional policemen to Marikina City to help in the rescue operation and keep peace and order in evacuation centers and flooded areas.

Marikina City police chief Senior Superintendent Gabriel Lopez had requested additional policemen from the NCRPO’s operation division chief Senior Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr.

“They (additional policemen) will help maintain peace and order not only in evacuation centers but also to guard abandoned homes against looters,” said Ramos.

The water level of the Marikina River is subsiding because of the improved weather but Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman discouraged the 39,804 evacuees from returning to their homes.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, the river’s water level based on the stream gauge located under the Marikina Bridge in Barangay Sto. Nio was pegged at 16.9 meters above sea level, down from the peak of 20.5 meters last Wednesday.

De Guzman suspended classes in all levels today despite the improved weather.

Vice Mayor Fabian Cadiz said the city council declared Marikina under a state of calamity last Wednesday after 16 barangays remained flooded.

A city official said the evacuated residents cannot be allowed to return to their homes as the river’s water level is still above critical at 18 meters.

Paul Sison, the city’s public information officer (PIO) said several adults were allowed to go home and clean their houses, leaving behind the older residents and babies at evacuation centers.

Among the evacuees were 25 babies from Cribs, an orphanage located near Marikina river. The babies were brought to their temporary shelter at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Loyola School of Theology in Quezon City.

The break from several days of continuous rains prompted the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to intensify rescue operations for residents stranded in flooded areas. Teams from MMDA Road Emergency Group, Metro Parkways Clearing Group, Public Safety Division, Flood Control Group, Task Force PUMA, Task Force Baklas Billboard and Task Force Kalasag were deployed to conduct rescue operations in various parts of the metropolis. The MMDA said its rescue personnel, equipped with rubber boats, rescued stranded residents in V. Mapa in Sta. Mesa, Manila; Salapan and Balong Bato in San Juan, Tumana and Provident Village in Marikina, Biak na Bato, Talayan, Tatalon, Parkway Village, Sto. Domingo and Roxas District in Quezon City, and areas in Las Piñas, Pasig, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Mandaluyong and in Makati.

More than 20,000 residents in different parts of the metropolis were rescued. The MMDA also distributed relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to around 2,500 families in affected areas of Metro Manila. These included 250 families in Maricaban, Pasay City and 250 families in Marikina.

The agency also sent two mobile water treatment facilities to Malabon and Marikina to provide potable water to residents.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the agency had coordinated with local government units during rescue operations.

The MMDA said those in need of rescue may call the following hotline numbers: MMDA Metrobase (136, 02-882-0925), Flood Control Information Center), 09054853900 (Globe), 09186511544 (Smart) and 09423963890 (Sun Cellular).

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Bulacan reported that 21 houses along the riverbanks were destroyed by the powerful current of the swollen Angat River in Pulilan, Bulacan last Wednesday afternoon.

Reports said 15 houses were washed out in Barangay Poblacion, four in Barangay Paltao, and two in Barangay Sto. Cristo, all in Pulilan.

Residents of Hagonoy, Bulacan are bracing for floodwaters that are draining into Manila Bay from the eastern part of Central Luzon.

“Be ready,” said the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of this town in brief text messages sent to residents late Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Globe Telecom, through its flagship corporate social responsibility program Globe Bridging Communities (Globe Bridgecom), has increased the number of Libreng Tawag facilities, deploying operations in areas that have a high concentration of evacuees.

Globe Libreng Tawag services can be found at Concepcion Integrated School, Concepcion, Marikina; Navotas City Hall, Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City; Barangay 3, Burgos, Dinalupihan, Bataan; 23 Daungan St, Barangay Daungan, Hermosa, Bataan Department of Agrarian Reform, Quezon City; Barangay Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga; Nangka Elementary School, Marikina; Bulacan Provincial Capitol, and Mandaluyong Elementary School, Mandaluyong.

Affected residents can make free five-minute local calls to any network, send text messages to all networks or make a two-minute international call at the Globe Libreng Tawag facilities.

Globe BridgeCom has also deployed Libreng Charging facilities at the Bulacan provincial capitol in Malolos so affected residents can charge their mobile phones.

Aside from Libreng Tawag operations, Globe BridgeCom has also powered partner-organizations, such as Internet connectivity for Gawad Kalinga’s Operation Walang Iwanan, as well as the mobile communication requirements of relief workers of Simbahang Lingkod Bayan (SLB). 

Globe, through mobile commerce brand GCash, has waived transaction fees on cash donations to partner-organizations sent via GCash.

These organizations include SLB, Habitat for Humanity and the Philippine National Red Cross. 

Poor planning worsened floods

An expert said the deadly floods that swamped Metro Manila are less a natural disaster and more the result of poor planning, lax enforcement and political self-interest. 

Damaged watersheds, massive squatter colonies living in danger zones and the neglect of drainage systems are some of the factors that have made the chaotic city of 15 million people much more vulnerable to enormous floods. 

Urban planner Nathaniel Einseidel said the Philippines had enough technical know-how and could find the necessary financing to solve the problem, but there was no vision or political will. 

“It’s a lack of appreciation for the benefits of long-term plans. It’s a vicious cycle when the planning, the policies and enforcement are not very well synchronized,” said Einseidel, who was Manila’s planning chief from 1979-1989. “I haven’t heard of a local government, a town or city that has a comprehensive drainage master plan.” 

Eighty percent of Manila was covered in water that in some parts were nearly two meters deep, after more than a normal month’s worth of rain was dumped on the city in 48 hours. 

The deluge was similar to one in 2009, a disaster which claimed more than 460 lives and prompted pledges from government leaders to make the city more resistant to floods. 

A government report released then called for 2.7 million people in shantytowns to be moved from danger zones alongside riverbanks, lakes and sewers. 

Squatters, attracted by economic opportunities in the city, often build shanties on riverbanks, storm drains and canals, dumping garbage and impeding the flow of waterways. 

The plan would have affected one in five Manila residents and taken 10 years and P130 billion to implement.

But squatter communities in danger zones have in fact grown since 2009. 

In a related development, rescue teams and paramedics from Isabela and Bacolod City were sent to flooded areas in Metro Manila and Central Luzon to assist in rescue efforts for stranded residents.

Isabela police director Senior Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag said that the search and rescue teams are composed members of the Cauayan City Rescue 922 and Santiago City Rescue 206.

The composite team brought with them their own rubber boats and other search and rescue gadgets. 

Mabanag said some members of the provincial police office who specialize in search and rescue also joined the mission to Metro Manila and some flooded villages in Pampanga and Bataan.

The rescue teams from Bacolod City and the different local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental are preparing for deployment to Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the city has reactivated its relief assistance initiative called “Bacolod Cares” and is proposing an allocation of about P1 million for the flood victims.

Sayson said the proposed P1-million budget from the city will be distributed to the affected provinces in Luzon and will be sent directly to their LGUs.

Damage to the agricultural sector by typhoon “Gener” and the continuous rains brought by the southwest monsoon in the past days had reached P167.90 million, covering production losses in rice, corn, high value crops, livestock, fisheries and farm infrastructure, according to the latest report by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

According to the report dated Aug. 8, cost of damage in rice areas was placed at P143.90 million. Affected rice areas covered 25,707 hectares in 19 provinces, most of these in the seedling and vegetative stage with chance of recovery.

Only 2,178 hectares were completely damaged.

Deemed lost were 3,552 metric tons (MT) of palay from 4,097 hectares that were in the reproductive and maturity stage.

The reports were gathered from five regions in Luzon and Visayas: Cordillera Administrative Region (Abra, Benguet, Kalinga, Mt. Province); Region 1 (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan);Region 2 (Cagayan); Region 3 (Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales); Region 6 (Aklan, Antique, and Negros Occidental).

The DA noted that damage reports from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon have not been received.

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest power distributor, is continuously restoring power supply in its franchise area.

As of 3:30 p.m. yesterday, only 3.64 percent or 185,981 customers did not have power supply, Meralco external communications manager Joe Zaldarriaga said.

This is down from 412,000 and 326,000 in the afternoons of Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Flooded areas in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Manila, Pasig and San Juan are still without power supply as precautionary measures to prevent accidents.

“We are hoping that over the weekend we can complete the power restoration,” Zaldarriaga said, adding that floods are receding as the weather improves.

Meanwhile, heavy rains triggered a landslide last Wednesday that damaged five transmission line structures of service provider National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) in Bataan.

“Affected power customers are Peninsula Electric Cooperative-Morong and Bataan Technopark Inc.,” NGCP said.

NGCP said flooding in the area had hampered restoration work but its linemen would continue inspections and correction work once the flood recedes.

The NGCP operates the country’s power grid that is owned by the National Transmission Corp.

It transmits high-voltage electricity through power superhighways that include transmission lines, towers and substations. With Non Alquitran, Mike Frialde, Czerina Valencia, Reinir Padua, Jerry Botial, Neil Jerome Morales, Aie balagtas See, Danny Dangcalan, Charlie Lagasca, Ric Sapnu, Dino Balabo, Cesar Ramirez, Eva Visperas