Storm 'Marce' drenches Metro

MANILA, Philippines - Heavy rains brought by tropical storm “Marce” caused floods in many parts of Metro Manila yesterday, forcing the cancellation of afternoon classes and some domestic flights.

Search and rescue units of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) were placed on standby yesterday as rains lashed the capital.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina ordered the manning of heavy trucks and rescue boats on a 24-hour basis.

“Let us all prepare for search and rescue operations. The weather is not good. The rain is heavy,” said Espina in his directive.

Officials were to announce early this morning whether certain preschool and high school classes in Caloocan and Malabon City – suspended yesterday due to flashfloods – would resume.

Yesterday’s late suspension of classes drew criticism from child welfare party-list group Akap Bata.

The group said classes should be suspended as early as 5 a.m. to spare children from the dangers of commuting through heavy rains and flooding.

Robert Sawi, weather division chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Marce (international name Gaemi) was forecast to graze the coasts of Southern Luzon, bringing moderate to intense rain until today.

The storm is moving southeast slowly, and is expected to stay in Philippine territory up to tomorrow.

The state weather bureau yesterday raised storm warning signal number 1 over Bataan and Zambales as Marce maintained its strength and moved closer to Luzon.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Marce’s center was spotted at 240 km west of Iba, Zambales with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

PAGASA said the enhanced southwest monsoon will continue to bring occasional moderate to heavy rains over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Calabarzon and the Bicol regions.

“Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out into the western seaboard of Luzon due to big waves generated by the storm,” PAGASA said.

“Marce could bring 10 to 25 millimeters per hour of rain (moderate to intense) within its 400-km radius.

“Marce is not expected to make landfall in any part of the country but it will enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, and Visayas,” Sawi added. PAGASA issued a yellow rainfall advisory over Metro Manila at 8:30 a.m. yesterday, warning of possible flooding in low-lying areas in the metropolis.

The yellow rainfall warning means that moderate to heavy rains could prevail over the area for the next three hours.

Classes in the cities of Cavite, Las Piñas, Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay and Sasmuan in Pampanga were suspended across all levels.

Meanwhile, the local government units of Caloocan, Cainta in Rizal, Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pateros, Pasig, Quezon City and San Juan suspended afternoon classes from pre-school to high school in both public and private schools.

In Valenzuela, afternoon classes in Pasolo, Pio Valenzuela, Wawang Pulo elementary schools and Polo National High School were canceled due to inclement weather.

Marce, the 13th tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the first weather disturbance this month, is expected to be 455 km west of Ambulong, Batangas this morning and at 650 km west of Metro Manila by Friday morning. – With Charmie Joy Pagulong, Charlie Lagasca, Pete Laude, Rainier Allan Ronda