Storm warning signals up as Henry moves toward N. Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Stormy weather is expected in some areas in Cagayan Valley as Typhoon Henry (international name Matmo) moves closer to extreme Northern Luzon today.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised yesterday afternoon storm warning signal no. 2 over the Batanes Group of Islands.

Cagayan and the Babuyan and Calayan Group of Islands, meanwhile, were placed under signal no. 1.

PAGASA weather forecaster Buddy Javier said the typhoon could still intensify while over the Philippine Sea.

“It was not expected to make landfall in any part of the country based on our current forecast but Henry’s outer periphery could still affect areas in extreme Northern Luzon,” Javier said.

“These areas could still experience stormy weather beginning Tuesday afternoon as Henry moves closer to Northern Luzon,” he said.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of the typhoon was located at 420 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, packing winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

It was forecast to move northwest at 24 kph.

Javier also warned the public in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Western Visayas against moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms due to Henry and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

He said Metro Manila residents should also brace for moderate to occasionally heavy rains beginning today until tomorrow due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

“Residents in these areas are advised to be alert against possible flashfloods and landslides,” Javier said.

PAGASA also advised fishermen and operators of small sea craft not to venture out to the eastern, southern and western seaboards of Luzon and the seaboards of the Visayas due to big waves generated by the typhoon.

Henry is predicted to be at 180 km north of Basco, Batanes this afternoon and at 580 km north northwest of Basco or outside the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow afternoon.

Javier said gradual improvement in weather conditions is expected beginning Thursday.

Almost 100 dead

Meanwhile, the death toll left by Typhoon Glenda that hit Luzon and the Visayas last week is nearing a hundred, according to the latest disaster report.

The number of injured also rose to 437 while six are still missing.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) yesterday said 97 individuals were killed during the onslaught of the typhoon.

The National Capital Region had two fatalities; Central Luzon, eight; Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), 70; Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), five; Bicol region, six; Western Visayas, one and Eastern Visayas, five.

Glenda also left 111,372 houses either partially or totally damaged in Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and NCR.

P6-billion calamity loans

Meanwhile, the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) has allocated P6 billion in calamity funds for its members who have been affected by Glenda.

“We have set aside P6 billion to make sure that we have enough to fund calamity loan applications of Pag-IBIG members whose homes were damaged by Typhoon Glenda,” Vice President Jejomar Binay, Pag-IBIG Fund board chairman, said yesterday.

Eligible members may file loan applications within 90 days from declaration of a state of calamity.

Binay said areas that have been declared under a state of calamity include the provinces of Bataan, Laguna, Quezon, Cavite, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Samar, as well as Muntinlupa City and Obando in Bulacan.

He said under the Pag-IBIG calamity loan program, members with at least 24 monthly contributions may borrow up to 80 percent of their total savings at an annual interest rate of 5.9 percent.

“This interest rate is the lowest in the market and is almost half of the previous interest rate of 10.75 percent per annum,” Binay said.

He said the loan is payable within 24 months after a grace period of three months.

“Our members do not have to worry about paying the loan immediately. With the three-month moratorium, those who have taken out loans only need to start paying the monthly amortization on the fourth month. This will allow them time to take care of urgent concerns,” Binay said.

He said members with existing Pag-IBIG multi-purpose or calamity loans may still file for new calamity loan applications, provided that the sum of all loans, including the new one being applied for, does not exceed 80 percent of total accumulated savings.

“Those with existing Pag-IBIG housing loans, on the other hand, may apply for calamity loan and can avail of the full loanable amount, provided that the housing loan is not in default at the time of application,” Binay said.

The calamity loan is considered part of the short-term loan programs being implemented by Pag-IBIG and is treated separately from housing loans.

Binay also said that to expedite loan applications, Pag-IBIG will deploy roving offices to be stationed at the city or municipal halls of affected areas if needed.

He said aside from the calamity loan, Pag-IBIG members with existing housing loans may also file insurance claims against allied perils if the property covered by the loan was damaged by the typhoon.

The amount that can be claimed depends on the extent of damage to the property.

 Application forms for the calamity loan and the insurance claim may be downloaded from the Pag-IBIG website (http://www.pag-ibigfund.gov.ph) or may be requested from Pag-IBIG branches or roving offices.

No significant increase

The Department of Health (DOH), for its part, yesterday said it has not observed any increase in leptospirosis cases from the flooding spawned by Glenda.

In an interview, DOH spokesman Lyndon Lee Suy said they do not expect leptospirosis cases to shoot up, like what happened when Tropical Storm Ondoy battered most of Luzon in 2009.

Lee Suy said Glenda brought strong winds and if there was flooding in some areas, these easily subsided.

The DOH earlier urged those who waded in floodwaters to immediately see a doctor if they manifest symptoms of leptospirosis. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Ed Amoroso, Jaime Laude, Sheila Crisostomo