'Bebeng' exits country, leaves 22 dead

MANILA, Philippines -  The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported yesterday that tropical storm “Bebeng” continued to move away from the country after leaving at least 22 people dead and damaging more than P100-million worth of crops in Eastern Visayas and Bicol.

The NDRRMC reported that floods and landslides killed 11 persons in Camarines Sur, four in Albay, three in Northern Samar, one each in Catanduanes, Leyte, and Las Piñas in Metro Manila after the storm slammed Eastern Visayas and Luzon last Sunday.

A man died of a heart attack during a tornado in Calumpit, Bulacan.

Ronald Flores, officer-in-charge of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), identified some of the dead in Camarines Sur as Rolando Balandia and Mario Nuñez both of Nabua town; Dodoy Ronan, Apolinario Bolante, and John Paul Jay Abagat, of Bula town; Romeo Marianito of Minalabac; and Wenceslao Lombis of Balatan town.

Marianito suffered a heart attack while the rest drowned.

The NDRRMC has not yet confirmed reports that a mechanic and his son died after they were electrocuted at the height of heavy rains brought by the storm in Tuba, Benguet.

The victims were identified as Salvador Boado,42, and his son Kenny, 23.

Flores said that 33,034 families or 173,915 persons from 237 barangays, 31 towns, and five cities in Eastern Visayas and Bicol were evacuated at the height of the storm.

Only 1,449 persons are still staying at 11 evacuation centers.

Bebeng left damage to agricultural crops worth P117.8 million in Eastern Visayas and Bicol.

“A total of 7,245 hectares of rice, corn and other high value crops, livestock and poultry in Bicol and Eastern Visayas were affected, with an estimated production loss amounting to P117,825,132.20 or 24,490.31 metric tons affecting 2,236 farmers,” Flores said.

Flores said that 79 percent of rice had already been harvested and farmers are now preparing for the wet season planting.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Bebeng would still bring cloudy skies with scattered rains over the western section of Luzon.

Bebeng was forecast to move northward towards Okinawa, Japan at 19 kilometers per hour.

Bebeng is the second storm to batter the Philippines this year. About 20 typhoons and storms lash the Philippines each year.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said it is monitoring a new weather disturbance east of the Philippines.

CamSur, Albay in state of calamity

Camarines Sur Vice Gov. Ato Peña said the province is now under a state of calamity to allow the affected towns and cities to utilize up to 30 percent of their calamity fund to rehabilitate areas damaged by Bebeng, based on Section 16 of the recently passed Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

Peña said that at least 10,035 residents were displaced when their houses were flooded in at least 26 of the 35 towns and two cities of Camarines Sur.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has ordered the Southern Luzon bureau of PAGASA to put in place a five-day weather forecast before a typhoon enters the country’s area of responsibility.

PAGASA currently provides disaster authorities warnings on climate threats once they enter the Philippine area of responsibility.

Salceda explained that a five-day forecast would give more lead-time and critical information to disaster authorities in devising and executing response strategies to an incoming climate threat.

“This framework would be immediately tested when PAGASA provides information to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council on any significant weather system that could enter the country’s area of responsibility,“ said Salceda during a forum to assess the damage and impact of Bebeng.

He was referring to a developing weather disturbance called 94W in the Marianas Islands that could possibly affect the Philippines by the weekend.

Salceda also asked PAGASA to regularly provide the Albay Provincial Security and Emergency Management Office with forecast from European model especially ECWM, since PAGASA is currently using American, Japanese, Australian forecasting models.

Omar Acosta, spokesman of Muntinlupa, said more than 400 residents that were evacuated from flooded areas in the city last Sunday night have now returned to their homes after floodwaters subsided.

Portions of barangays Cupang, Putatan, Bayanan and Alabang were flooded while roads along Sharp, Cupang and Summit Circle, Putatan were not passable at the height of the storm.

He also denied reports that there were fatalities in the landslide that damaged a portion of the National Housing Authority project inside the New Bilibid Prisons compound.

Zambales Provincial Disaster coordinating officer Gracela Macabare said 159 residents were evacuated from five flooded barangays and were brought to three evacuation centers in Botolan town.

Macabare added that the evacuees have sought shelter at the Botolan North Central Elementary School, Barangay San Miguel Hall, and Barangay Bangan Senior Citizen Hall. – With Helen Flores, Aie Balagtas See, Celso Amo, Cet Dematera, Artemio Dumalo, Bebot Sison, Ding Cervantes, AP