'Juaning' leaves 25 dead

MANILA, Philippines - At least 25 people were killed, nine others were injured and 30 missing after heavy rains brought by tropical storm “Juaning” caused floods and landslides in southern and central Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported yesterday.

Benito Ramos, head of the NDRRMC and Office of Civil Defense (OCD), said among the dead were six in Albay and five in a Camarines Norte landslide. Two drowned in Catanduanes while two were struck by lightning in Cavite. Marinduque and Iloilo reported one fatality each.

Ramos identified some of the fatalities as the Casero family – Alfredo, Ofelia, Richard, Marian and one-year-old Edgar – whose house was buried in a landslide in Purok 1, Barangay Sta. Rosa Norte in Jose Panganiban town, Camarines Norte.

An unidentified fisherman was found dead while 12 others were rescued in Marinduque, according to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Algier Ricafrente.

He said search and rescue operations were being conducted in the vicinity of Masbate for the 20 fishermen who were reported missing after their fishing boat F/B Hope Christy capsized.

Ramos said that search and rescue operations are now being conducted in Bicol, Eastern Samar and Marinduque.

The NDRRMC reported that 30 people were rescued - six fishermen from Eastern Samar, 15 others from Polilio Island in Quezon, and nine fishermen in Marinduque.

Ramos said the storm affected about 129,576 families, including 107,938 families in Albay, or 645,137 persons.

Storm Juaning made landfall yesterday morning in Aurora province and is expected to exit the country this morning.

President Aquino is open to a proposal to investigate what went wrong with the alleged erroneous weather forecast in Bicol that resulted in the death of more than 10 residents in the region.

“We will see, we will study it, perhaps when this is over,” he told Palace reporters in a chance interview at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, where he was guest speaker at the Opening of the 2011 National Science Technology Week.

Aquino made the statement in reply to queries whether he agreed with the complaint of Albay Governor Salceda whose province was severely hit by the unexpected floods.

The President nevertheless defended the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that had issued hourly weather updates that were also sent to Malacañang and concerned local government units.

“At this point, I don’t see any reason (for that complaint). But we will check, see if there is a validity.”

“Iyung PAGASA iyung overall sentiment and general sentiment across the country is that they have been on the ball. But we will see and study if there is legitimacy to his (Salceda’s) claim. He may have been under stress.”

Aquino cited the earthquake that hit Zambales and Metro Manila, where there were no reported casualties or damage to property. “But I don’t think, at this point in time, I haven’t seen anything that they (PAGASA) are not on the ball.”

Aquino also extended his condolences to Salceda, one of his classmates at the Ateneo.

PAGASA maintained yesterday storm warning signal no. 2 over 22 areas, including Metro Manila, as Juaning passed through central and northern Luzon.

The weather bureau said Juaning slightly weakened after it made landfall over Dinalungan, Aurora at 9:30 a.m.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the center of Juaning was spotted at 40 = kilometers southwest of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.

Signal no. 2 remained hoisted over Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Abra, Kalinga, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Isabela, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Polillo Island and Metro Manila as of 11 a.m. yesterday.

Signal no. 1 was still up in Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Cagayan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Mindoro provinces, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Burias Island.

PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul said Juaning veered slightly and was hovering over Northern Luzon as of yesterday afternoon.

Yumul warned residents in Northern Luzon against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Juaning is forecast to move northeast at 15 kph and is predicted to be 160 km west southwest of Loaog City this morning and 660 km west of Basco, Batanes tomorrow morning.

Yumul also warned residents along coastal areas in Luzon and Visayas against big waves or storm surges generated by the weather disturbance.

PAGASA said the storm would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring widespread rains over the rest of Luzon and western Visayas in the next few days.

It is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility this morning, Yumul said.

Juaning is the 10th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the fourth weather disturbance this month.

Hundreds stranded in ports

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that some 1,600 people were stranded in various seaports in three regions.

PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente said more than 25 percent of the stranded passengers or 430 people were held in Batangas. Many of them were passengers of vessels bound for Calapan, Mindoro Oriental.

In Calapan, there were 200 people waiting to travel.

There are also 211 people stranded in Lucena, 312 in Tabaco, Albay; 118 in Pio Duran, Albay; and 115 people in Romblon.

The PCG said that 22 persons were stranded in Aparri in Cagayan.

PCG commandant Admiral Ramon Liwag yesterday advised the public, particularly those who often travel by boat, to familiarize themselves with the PCG regulations so they could “appropriately plan and schedule their trips to avoid being stranded in ports during the occurrence of typhoons.”

Six domestic flights were also cancelled due to Juaning. Cebu Pacific cancelled their flights to Virac and Cauayan and its turnaround flights while AirphilExpress cancelled its flight to Tuguegarao and its turnaround flight.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said that all flights of PAL are proceeding normally with no cancellations.

Passengers are advised to check in early and they may verify flight details at PAL reservation.

The water level in major dams in Luzon remained at normal levels despite the rains brought by Juaning.

PAGASA hydrologist Danny Flores said they are monitoring  Angat Dam, Ipo Dam, La Mesa, Ambuklao Dam, Binga, San Roque Dam, Pantabangan Dam and Magat Dam, the largest dam in Ramon, Isabela.

Magat Dam’s water level was at 187 meters, still normal.

Eva Agamata, action officer of the Nueva Vizcaya provincial disaster risk reduction management council, asked residents living along the banks of the Magat River in the towns of Bambang, Bayombong, Solano and Bagabag to go to evacuation centers amid threats of floods from the storm.

Residents of low-lying areas were also alerted in Cagayan and Isabela, which, as of press time, were placed under signal No. 1 with Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino under storm signal No. 2.

Hundreds of residents in Quirino’s capital of Cabarroguis as well as in the towns of Saguday and Maddela, were brought to evacuation sites due to looming flashfloods from swelling rivers as well as landslides. Hundreds of hectares of corn lands were also destroyed by the storm.  

Strong winds toppled several electric posts that caused blackouts in most parts of Quirino.

Isabela provincial agriculturist Danilo Tumamao said the scarcity of rainfall has already threatened several hectares of corn crops in the province.

Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado ordered the local disaster management offices in 24 towns and cities to alert residents in low lying areas.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo directed all police regional and provincial commanders to closely coordinate with their respective disaster risk reduction agencies and be ready for possible deployment for search and rescue operations.

“Unit commanders must ensure maximum police visibility,” said Bacalzo, who ordered all police chiefs to submit report to national operation center at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Police said operations at the Tabaco City International Port remain suspended and left 234 passengers and about eight trucks stranded.

The National Capital Region Police Command (NCRPO) placed on standby its 32 rescue boats.

NCPRO chief Director Alan Purisima ordered his five district directors to prepare their rescue boats and coordinate with local government units (LGUs) in case of any emergency situation.

He directed his five district directors to closely monitor low-lying areas of Marikina City, Pasig City, Taguig City, Parañaque City, Muntinlupa City, Navotas City, Malabon City and Valenzuela City and help LGUs in evacuation and relief operations.

Purisima also mobilized the NCRPO’s 6x6 trucks and heavy equipment to help in the evacuation of residents to higher ground.

The Senate also called off its session yesterday because of bad weather.

In a text message sent to officers of the Senate and to the media, the office of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile announced that there would be no work at the Senate and the afternoon session had been cancelled.

Last Tuesday when the storm was just about to enter the country, Enrile also allowed Senate employees to go home before three in the afternoon.

Tuesday’s session also ended early to allow the rest of staff of the senators to go home early.

Meanwhile, Senate committee on climate change chairwoman Loren Legarda reiterated her call to the national and local governments to enforce a heightened level of environmental protection, manage rapidly increasing exposure to hazards from urban development, and ensure effective community-based early warning systems in order to reduce or even prevent casualties and damage to property.With Helen Flores, Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Non Alquitran, Marvin Sy, Raymund Catindig, Dino Balabo, Charlie Lagasca, AP