Maring exits PAR, leaves 9 dead, 11 missing

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Maring exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) yesterday, leaving at least nine persons dead, two injured and 11 others missing as well as several areas flooded.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is verifying the reported number of casualties, according to NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad.

Initial information received by the NDRRMC from its regional units showed the fatalities included four persons who were buried alive in landslides in La Trinidad and Itogon, both in Benguet, and four others who drowned in flashfloods in Narra, Palawan.

Injuries were also reported in Buguias and Itogon, both in Benguet.

Authorities are searching for six persons who were reported missing in landslides that occurred in separate areas in Benguet.

As of yesterday morning, the bodies of three minors were pulled out from a pile of mud that buried their home in Barangay Central Ambiong in La Trinidad.

Another villager was recovered from the rubble in Barangay Dominican Mirador in Baguio City.

The rest of the missing were believed to have drowned in Badoc, Ilocos Norte and in Narra, Palawan.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Maring will continue to bring moderate to heavy rain and strong winds in some parts of the country.

Storm signal No. 2 will remain hoisted in the next 24 hours over Abra, Apayao, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of Isabela, Kalinga and Mountain Province.

The provinces of Aurora, Bulacan, Benguet, Ifugao, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quirino, Tarlac and Zambales as well as the northern portions of Bataan and Quezon and the rest of Isabela will remain under storm signal No. 1 in the next 36 hours.

The fatalities in Palawan were identified as Juan Dubla and his wife Melva, Ricardo Andres and Jemuel Remonsada, whose remains were all found in Barangay Batang-Batang in Narra town.

Among those missing were Sofronio Escolara, Rjay Ganancial, Liezel Ismao, Melinda Remonsada and Rodnie Remonsada.

Disaster officials in Claveria, Cagayan reported two fatalities – Pedro Sanjila, 27, and Sheryl Guim, 33 – who were swept away by floodwaters during the onslaught of the storm on Monday and yesterday, respectively.

Ten residents were rescued after they were trapped in their flooded houses in Sta. Teresita, Cagayan.

In Pangasinan, Ana Marie Ventayen, 24, died of electrocution when floodwaters entered her house in Barangay Dorongan in Lingayen.

In nearby Alcala town, Michael Alvarez, 19, was reported missing as he and his employer were walking in flooded farms in Barangay Gualsic.

Thirteen towns and two cities in Pangasinan were submerged in floodwaters due to overnight rain spawned by Maring.

The storm disrupted classes and work in government offices.

P29.4 million damage

Initial damage to agriculture caused by Maring currently stands at P29.4 million, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

As of noon yesterday, the DA said there were 1,128 farmers and 1,225 hectares of agricultural areas in the Cordilleras that were affected by the bad weather, leaving production loss at 1,713 metric tons (MT).?Corn accounted for 95.6 percent of the damage with 1,135 hectares affected and a volume loss of 1,653 MT valued at P28.1 million.

High value crops logged a 4.4 percent share of the damage at 90 hectares with a total volume loss of 60 MT valued at P1.29 million?The DA said the amount of damage is still subject to validation.

Combined standing crops data in the Cordilleras, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), Western Visayas and Zamboanga peninsula showed that 1.47 million hectares of rice farm may have been affected by the severe tropical storm.

The Department of Public Work and Highways said 15 national roads and highways nationwide were left impassable due to floodwaters brought by Maring and Tropical Depression Nando.

Vessels and passengers were stranded in three ports in Southern Tagalog as sea travel was prohibited due to strong winds and high waves.

Malacañang urged the public to remain alert as it gave assurance that it is ready to assist areas devastated by Maring.?Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Palace is closely monitoring ongoing operations for people displaced by the storm.

The Office of the Vice President dispatched rescue teams in flooded cities and provinces, including Candon City and other parts of Ilocos.

Vice President Leni Robredo urged Filipinos to lend them equipment that would be used for the search and rescue operations. – Emmanuel Tupas, Ed Amoroso, Emmanuel Dumlao, Victor Martin, Catherine Talavera, Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez, Jose Rodel Clapano, Robertzon Ramirez, Alexis Romero, Pia Lee-Brago, Marc Jayson Cayabyab