60,000 in Mindanao affected by ‘Crising’

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical depression “Crising” has affected close to 60,000 people in Mindanao.

The death toll remains at one, but four people were hurt during a landslide in Sapad, Lanao del Norte last Tuesday.

Crising might leave the country tonight, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). However, public storm warning signal No. 1 remains hoisted in the southern part of Palawan.

Executive director Eduardo del Rosario of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 18yesterday 59,634 persons or 16,730 families have been affected in 47 barangays in Northern Mindanao and Davao regions. They included displaced people and those who lost properties and livelihood.

Del Rosario said 3,568 people or 735 families are now in seven evacuation centers.

Four roads and five bridges in the regions Northern Mindanao, Davao and Caraga have also been affected, he added. Del Rosario said Crising damaged 87 houses in Davao and Northern Mindanao.

The NDRRMC has been placed on red alert, placing all disaster management personnel on standby.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has pre-positioned P38.14-million worth of standby funds and relief supplies for the affected families.

In Butuan City, around 2,904 residents or 563 families in nine barangays were evacuated from their homes last Tuesday after the Agusan River overflowed.

Bong Catedral, Butuan City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council operations officer, told The STAR flashfloods have affected a total of 29 barangays since the rains started on Monday night. The affected barangays are Buhangin, Baan Riverside, Agaw, Agusan Pequeo, Golden Ribbon, Maug, Mahogany, Obrero and Maon.

The evacuees were provided food, water and medicine at the different evacuation centers, Catedral said.

Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. suspended on Tuesday classes in kindergarten, elementary and high school levels. The class suspension remained in effect until yesterday.

In Agusan del Norte, classes were also suspended in the pre-school and elementary levels in Magallanes town.

Roads were impassable in the municipality of Las Nieves, from Barangay Poblacion to Barangay Florida due to floods.

Residents are awaiting food, relief and medicine from the government.

In Surigao del Sur, classes were suspended in the pre-school and elementary levels in the cities of Tandag and Bislig and the towns of Carmen, Tago and Lingig.

Barangays Siagao, Patong, San Roque, Poblacion and Baras in the municipality of San Miguel were reported to be under 1.5 meters of water.

In the municipality of Tago, Barangays Anahao Daan, Anahao Bag-o, Bangsud, Layog, and Caras-an were flooded to about half-meter deep.

In Dinagat Islands, classes were suspended in pre-school and elementary.

In Central Mindanao, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is closely watching four cities and eight towns which have been experiencing continued rains.

Jerome Barranco, assistant regional director of the OCD in Central Mindanao based in nearby General Santos City, said they are now focusing on the cities of Cotabato, Koronadal, Kidapawan and General Santos.

They are also watching the situation in the towns of Isulan, Lutayan and Lambayong in Sultan Kudarat; Norala, Tantangan, Tupi and Sto. Nio in South Cotabato; and Alabel in Sarangani, he added.

Barranco said they are also monitoring the level of water in various rivers in Central Mindanao.

“We are always prepared for any possible landslide and flashflood situations,” he said.

Headed towards Sabah

PAGASA forecaster Joey Figuracion said yesterday Crising will be heading toward the northern part of Sabah.

Crising will be at 380 kilometers southwest of Puerto Princesa City by this afternoon and 580 kilometers southwest of Puerto Princesa City tonight.

In a 5 p.m. forecast yesterday, PAGASA said the southern part of Palawan would experience rains and gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.

Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas would have cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms.

Mindanao and the rest of the Visayas would be cloudy with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon would be cloudy with light rains.

Moderate to strong winds blowing southeast to east would prevail over Mindanao, and from the northeast over the rest of the country with moderate to rough seas.

Flights canceled

Cebu Pacific canceled 16 domestic flights to Mindanao and the Visayas yesterday. The canceled flights are: 5J-381 and 5J-382 (Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila); 5J-795 and 5J-796 (Butuan-Davao-Butuan); 5J-385 and 5J-386 (Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila); 5J-205 and 5J-206 (Cebu-Cagayan de Oro-Cebu); 5J-525 and 5J-526 (Manila-Dumaguete-Manila); 5J-867 and 5J-868 (Cebu-Dumaguete-Cebu); 5J-625 and 5J-626 (Manila-Dumaguete-Manila); 5J-383 and 5J-383 (Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila).

Cebu Pacific said affected passengers will be accommodated on the next available flights. They may also rebook within 30 days of their original flight, or refund these flights, or place them in their travel funds without penalties.

Skyjet Airlines announced that flight SJ-5525 (Manila-Basco) and the return flight to Manila, SJ-5525 have been cancelled.

AirPhil Express flights 2P-961 and 2P-962 (Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila) were also cancelled. – With Evelyn Macairan, Ben Serrano, Ramil Bajo, Rudy Santos