MANILA, Philippines — The massive flooding that hit parts of the country was caused not only by issues involving flood control projects, but also by the unprecedented volume of rain brought by recent weather disturbances, President Marcos said yesterday.
After a situation briefing with Central Luzon local officials in San Fernando, Pampanga, Marcos said heavy rains had overwhelmed the country’s flood management programs.
“We need to understand that this is not solely due to issues with the flood control project, but also the torrential rain – levels unprecedented in Philippine history. This is a result of climate change,” Marcos said.
He added that the government’s immediate efforts would include repairing destroyed facilities.
Marcos noted that the government is also eyeing long-term flood control projects, including the construction of river dams in Nueva Ecija and a long dike that could extend to Bataan.
“We have other projects in the pipeline. One long-term plan involves constructing a dike road – we are looking at a route extending all the way to Pilar, Bataan. That is the long-term plan. We are currently studying it. The route spans about a hundred kilometers, so it will take some time, but the study is already underway,” the President said.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, 1.01 million people were affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng in Pampanga alone.
3 storms monitored
As of yesterday afternoon, three weather systems are being monitored in and around the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), including Typhoon Obet, which entered the country’s monitoring zone yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Typhoon Saudel entered PAR and was given the local name Obet at 1:20 p.m. yesterday. As of 4 p.m., it was located 1,375 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, packing winds of 165 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 205 kph. It was moving west-northwestward at 30 kph.
PAGASA said Obet is forecast to remain far from the Philippine landmass and is expected to exit PAR within 12 hours.
“It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall and severe winds may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone,” PAGASA said.
No wind signal was raised over any part of the country.
Obet will continue moving generally west-northwestward for the next two days before shifting generally westward. It may slightly intensify but is expected to remain a typhoon while inside PAR.
Meanwhile, the two other weather systems being monitored are both outside the PAR.
One of the tropical depressions has strengthened into a tropical storm and was assigned the international name Atsani. It was located 1,765 km east of Central Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph. It was moving east-northeastward at 35 kph.
Also outside PAR, Tropical Depression Gaenari is moving northwestward at 10 kph. It was last located 505 km north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, with winds of 45 kph and gusts of 55 kph.
Despite Obet remaining far from land, PAGASA warned that heavy rainfall and severe winds could still be experienced in areas outside the storm’s forecast landfall point and confidence cone.
Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms may prevail over Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cavite, Batangas and Rizal due to the southwest monsoon or habagat.
Habagat will also bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms over Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region and the rest of Luzon.
The rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.
Preparations
Despite the absence of wind signals, government agencies have started preparing for possible heavy rains and flooding as Obet could enhance the southwest monsoon.
The Philippine National Police placed its units on heightened readiness, with PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordering police commanders to take proactive measures in coordination with local government units to ensure public safety.
“Our chiefs of police and other unit commanders in the affected areas were tasked to monitor the situation in their areas,” Nartatez said in a statement. “As we monitor the track and development, we are coordinating with local government units in case there’s a need to implement preemptive evacuation to ensure safety of residents.”
Apart from search and rescue operations, police officers are expected to assist residents in areas vulnerable to flooding.
Police vehicles are also on standby for deployment for Libreng Sakay, or free rides, to commuters in case of floods.
In Pampanga, the police has ordered all its search and rescue equipment to be inspected and checked to ensure their serviceability and readiness for immediate deployment when needed.
The Philippine Coast Guard District North Western Luzon, for its part, placed its deployable response groups on standby and started information dissemination in preparation for the typhoon.
The response groups, composed of search and rescue, K9 and medical personnel, are ready for immediate dispatch in case of flooding and search and rescue situations.
School reconstruction
Meanwhile, the Department of Education said at least P2.604 billion is needed to repair and reconstruct 1,616 schools damaged by the southwest monsoon and recent cyclones.
Of the amount, P2.245 billion is needed to reconstruct 898 schools while P359 million is required for major repairs of 718 schools.
During a situation briefing presided over by President Marcos in Pampanga, Education Secretary Sonny Angara reported that more than 9,597 classrooms suffered damage, with Central Luzon accounting for 41 percent of the nationwide classroom damage.
The region had 3,596 damaged classrooms across 412 schools, affecting 126,584 learners. Pampanga reported the most damaged classrooms at 1,689, followed by Bulacan with 933.
“First and foremost, the marching order of our President Bongbong Marcos is to ensure the safety of our students and teachers, while we minimize disruption to their studies,” Angara said.
Angara said 1,066 classrooms in 291 schools nationwide are being used as evacuation centers for 9,068 displaced families. In Region 3, 237 classrooms in 78 schools are sheltering 1,951 displaced families.
“That’s why we immediately provided support to our schools—from cleaning to replacing damaged modules. We will not let the education of our youth be interrupted just because of the storm,” Angara added.
DepEd said it will tap its Disaster Preparedness and Response Program fund and a special budget request to the Department of Budget and Management. It will also partner with the Department of Labor and Employment through its “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers” program for campus cleanup and clearing efforts.
Regional and division offices have also begun emergency reprinting and procurement to replace 23,154 damaged self-learning modules.
Affected schools in Region 3 experienced up to 12 lost instructional days, particularly in Pampanga and Zambales.
DepEd is implementing its “4H” framework to guide learning delivery based on safety and local conditions.
The department has also proposed an updated executive order on class suspensions and resumptions to replace EO No. 66, s. 2012.
The proposed policy would allow school-level resumption of in-person classes in safe campuses during broader citywide suspensions, subject to safety assessments and local government concurrence. — Andrew Ronquillo, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Evelyn Macairan, Bella Cariaso, Emmanuel Tupas