Manila, Philippines - Classes were suspended in various parts of the country and several domestic flights were cancelled as an active low-pressure area east of northern Luzon spawned flashfloods, disaster management officials said yesterday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said flashfloods occurred in Cainta, Morong, Taytay and Antipolo City in Rizal province; San Narciso in Zambales, and Bulan in Sorsogon.
The floodwaters in Cainta, Antipolo City and Morong rose to about two feet.
State weather forecasters said the active low-pressure area later intensified into a tropical depression, “Ferdie.”
This also caused floods in Bulan but no evacuation was ordered, the NDRMMC said.
Heavy rainfall also caused flashfloods in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. The flood, triggered by the overflowing of the Allah River, affected 50 families. About 50 persons had been evacuated to the Isulan municipal gymnasium but were able to return to their homes after the floodwaters subsided.
Storm warning signal number 1 was raised over Northern Luzon areas yesterday as the active low pressure area turned into a tropical depression.
Signal no. 1 was raised over Isabela, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Batanes and Mountain Province as of 5 p.m. yesterday.
As of 4 p.m., the center of Ferdie was spotted at 130 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center.
The storm was moving west northwest at 13 kph.
Nathaniel Servando of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the enhanced southwest monsoon will bring occasional rains (moderate to heavy) over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, especially the western section including Metro Manila.
Ferdie is predicted to be 140 km north northwest of Laoag City this afternoon; 380 km west northwest of Laoag City tomorrow afternoon and 660 km west northwest of Laoag City by Monday afternoon.
The bad weather also caused a sea mishap in Palawan.
The NDRRMC said a motorized boat named Irish capsized last Wednesday at about 11 p.m. off Barangay Tinabog, San Rafael in Puerto Princesa City. The boat reportedly capsized due to rough seas and strong winds.
Five fishermen were on board the boat owned by a certain Gideon Baron.
All the fishermen were rescued by the Coast Guard at about 9:30 a.m. yesterday.
Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo identified the five rescued fishermen as Oscar Barnelio Lique, Jason Leonilo, Juling Almoraje, Bentot Bartolay, and Julan Bartolan Leonilo.
Meanwhile, a tornado hit Barangay Inararan in Bulan, Sorsogon and damaged four houses. One fishing boat was damaged due to the incident but no casualties were reported.
NDRRMC said classes in pre-school, elementary and high school, both public and private, were suspended in Antipolo, Angono, Cainta, Binangonan, Morong, Teresa and Rodriguez in Rizal; Cavite City, Noveleta, Rosario and Bacoor in Cavite; Parañaque, Pateros, Marikina, Pasay, Taguig, Manila and Malabon.
Afternoon classes in pre-school, elementary and high school were suspended by the local governments of Marikina and Malabon.
The local government units of Pasay, Pateros, Manila and Parañaque City suspended classes in all levels.
At least three flights were canceled because of the bad weather.
Canceled was a Cebu Pacific flight from Caticlan to Manila (5J892) and Air Philippines flights 2P015 and 2P015.
The NDRRMC has placed its personnel on “blue alert” for deployment in the event of an emergency situation. A blue alert places half of the disaster management personnel on standby.
Regional disaster management offices have been ordered to undertake precautionary measures and to initiate preemptive evacuation of families in low-lying and mountainous areas where needed. - Rainier Allan Ronda, Evelyn Macairan