Glenda damages 2 Boeing planes parked at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Strong winds brought by Typhoon Glenda damaged a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 and a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 737 parked at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 yesterday.

The left wing of the Singapore Airlines plane was dented when winds blew the plane toward one of the air bridges at Terminal 1.

The fuselage of the Malaysian airliner sustained damage when it hit a mobile service stairs.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines  (CAAP)-Aircraft Investigation Inquiry Board investigators Judy Armenio and Marivic Apao were immediately dispatched to the scene to determine the real cause of the incident.

The CAAP, however, assured the public that the typhoon caused limited structural damage at the airport.

Singapore Airlines said it would provide updates should there be a cancellation or rescheduling of flights.

Dante Basanta, NAIA Terminal 1 manager, said the CAAP also suspended runway operations from 7 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. to clear the area of debris from fallen trees brought by winds to the runway.

No major flooding

Meanwhile, there was no major flooding in flood-prone Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela (Camanava) area, but at least 150 families were evacuated in Malabon and Valenzuela.

Malabon public information office chief Bong Padua said 20 families were brought to the Oreta Sports Center, 40 families at the Potrero Elementary School, and 17 families were evacuated to the Dampalit Elementary School as of 11 a.m.

 “Our priority right now is to evacuate the residents living in flood-prone areas. Otherwise, everything is okay in the city,” he told The STAR.

In Valenzuela City, Mayor Rex Gatchalian and Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian reported that at least 50 families consisting of 209 individuals were transferred to the Valenzuela National High School, and 10 families were taken to the Parada Elementary School.

Two separate fires were also reported at a soya milk factory along Narciso street in Canumay, Valenzuela and a Styrofoam factory along Lapu-Lapu street in Navotas at the height of the typhoon.

Marikina River rises

In Marikina, at least 219 families or 1,091 persons were evacuated after water at Marikina River reached 16 meters, prompting authorities to raise Alert Level 2.

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, Paul Sison, chief of the city’s public information office, said 54 families or 131 persons were brought to the Malanday Elementary School, 60 families or 410 persons at the H. Bautista Elementary School in Barangay Parang, and 105 families or 550 persons at the Bulelak gym in Barangay Nangka.

He said all eight floodgates of the Manggahan floodway in Pasig City have been opened to ease the swelling of the river.

He advised the evacuees to remain in the evacuation centers until Glenda has left the country.

2 hurt in QC

In Quezon City, two men were injured when a wall eight feet high along Scout Borromeo near Tomas Morato Avenue collapsed amid the heavy rains and strong winds at past midnight yesterday.

Superintendent Limuel Obon, Quezon City Police District-Station 10 commander, said excavations for a construction project nearby could have weakened the wall’s foundation.

At least 400 families or 1,519 individuals were also evacuated in the city.

P-Noy cancels schedules outside Malacañang

The typhoon also forced the cancellation of President Aquino’s appointment outside Malacañang. He was supposed to be the guest of honor at the opening of the Asian Defense Security and Crisis Management Exhibition at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Courts in Metro Manila were likewise closed as Glenda battered the country. The Office of the Bar Confidant extended the deadline for filing of applications for the Bar exams until today.

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno urged Manila residents to avoid Roxas Boulevard and Intramuros until the toppled trees and debris left by Glenda have been cleared. – With Non Alquitran, Rey Galupo, Reinir Padua, Jose Rodel Clapano, Alexis Romero, Aurea Calica, Edu Punay, Delon Porcalla