‘Auring’ exits but new LPA expected to enter Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm “Auring” left the country yesterday afternoon but the state weather bureau said a new low-pressure area was expected to enter this weekend.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) lifted public storm warning signals in all areas affected by Auring at 5 p.m. yesterday.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Auring was spotted at 460 kilometers southwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It was moving westward at 20 kph.

PAGASA continued to warn fishermen in Northern, Central and Southern Luzon against big waves due to the northeast monsoon. 

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), on the other hand, lifted the suspension of all sea trips in southern Philippines Friday morning after Auring left the country.

However, trips in the areas of Mapun Island, southern Palawan, and Sandakan in Malaysia were still cancelled due to rough seas, according to Lieutenant Commander Eliseo Dalnay, PCG district spokesman.

Dalnay said the PCG gave the go ahead to sea trips after PAGASA lifted the storm warning signal but it “will remain on alert and closely monitor the travels of all type of vessels as the seas remained rough and choppy in southern Philippines.”

Several areas, mostly flood-prone and low-lying areas in Zamboanga City, went under water Friday morning following hours of incessant rain spawned by Auring.

Flashfloods

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that Auring has displaced a total of 791 families in Bukidnon, Zamboanga del Norte and Palawan.

Benito Ramos, NDRRMC executive officer and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) administrator, said that heavy to moderate rains triggered a flashflood in Valencia City, Bukidnon resulting in the evacuation of 50 people to the city’s gymnasium and covered court.

Continuous rains also caused flooding in Asuncion, Davao del Norte, inundating 10 barangays that same day. Early yesterday, heavy rains also triggered flooding in Barangay Panitian, Quezon, Palawan, forcing 150 residents to evacuate to higher ground.

An hour later a flashflood also struck Barangay Iraan, in nearby Rizal town.

“The directly affected families are now placed at 791 families or 1,405 individuals and are now staying in various evacuations centers in Valencia City, Bukidnon; Dipolog City in Zambaonga del Norte and in Palawan,” Ramos said.

Cancelled flights

Bad weather also forced the cancellation the other day of Cebu Pacific Manila-Ozamiz-Manila and Manila-Pagadian-Manila flights.

ZestAir also cancelled its Manila-Masbate-Manila flight.

As this developed, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) distributed yesterday relief goods to the flood victims in eight municipalities in Capiz and five towns in Aklan badly hit by Auring.

“I urge every Filipino, especially those in the private sector, to help the government in assisting our fellow Filipinos who were affected by the floods brought about by storm Auring,” Vice President Jejomar Binay said.

Binay allocated funds for relief operations and other social services using his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

– With Jaime Laude, Roel Pareño, Jose Rodel Clapano