MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Enteng’s official death toll rose to 12 yesterday with at least seven people reported missing in various affected provinces in Luzon and the Visayas, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The NDRRMC has yet to release more information about the fatalities, but its latest report identifies two of them as residents of San Jose and Tisa in Cebu City. Both reportedly died due to severe injuries caused by collapsed structures during heavy rainfall and flooding during the last two days.
In La Trinidad, Benguet, rescue personnel are still looking for a 16-year-old male who went missing after falling into the Mamaga creek between Barangays Lubas and Balili on Sept. 1.
In yesterday’s report, the NDRRMC said Enteng has affected a total of 149,661 families or 547,029 persons in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Metro Manila.
Of the number, 12,742 families or 50,076 persons are taking temporary shelter and are being provided basic needs in 323 evacuation centers.
So far, more than P31.2 million worth of assistance have been provided to some 48,140 families in areas or provinces most affected by Enteng.
The NDRRMC said 589 damaged houses have been reported in Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas and Central Visayas.
The NDRRMC also reported that over a hundred areas remain flooded as of yesterday, but has yet to release data on estimated damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
Evacuations
At least 275 families in Valenzuela City were evacuated yesterday due to floods brought by the monsoon enhanced by Enteng, the local government reported.
The evacuees, numbering around 1,052 people, are from Barangays Bignay, Veinte Reales, Lingunan, Coloong, Lawang Bato, Canumay West, Dalandanan, Arkong Bato, Malanday, Marulas, Gen. T. De Leon and Maysan. They are currently staying in 17 evacuation centers and receiving relief supplies from the city government.
The city government also cancelled a mega job fair in SM City Valenzuela scheduled today due to inclement weather.
Parts of MacArthur Highway are flooded but remain passable to vehicles as of yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the water level at Marikina River was measured at 14.7 meters at around 4 p.m., still below 15 meters which would trigger a first alarm, the local government said in a Facebook post.
In Aurora, 944 families were affected by Enteng, according to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief engineer Elson Amado Egargue.
Egargue said displaced residents from the affected towns were temporarily housed in various evacuation centers and were provided with food packs.
The PDRRMO chief added there was no reported damage so far in infrastructure and agriculture in Aurora.
In Metro Manila, the cities of Pasig and Mandaluyong suspended yesterday face-to-face classes at all levels in both public and private schools.
In an advisory, the Pasig city government through its Public Information Office announced the suspension, citing the issuance by the state weather bureau PAGASA of “heavy rainfall warning” which was up to “Yellow Warning level” in Metro Manila.
The Mandaluyong city government, through its PIO, announced that face-to-face classes at all levels in both public and private schools are suspended.
In Pangasinan, Gov. Ramon Guico III ordered the suspension of classes in all levels, both public and private, yesterday due to the inclement weather caused by Enteng and intensified southwest monsoon.
Guico’s order also said that “the suspension of work in public and private offices shall be left to the discretion of the local chief executives or company management.”
River systems in the province were also being closely monitored, while the current water level in San Roque Dam is 254.47 meters above sea level (masl) as of Wednesday. No gates were opened as the current level is still way below the dam’s 280 masl spilling level.
In Baguio City, the local government logged no casualties during Enteng even as the city was also battered by heavy rains since Sunday. Even the city’s disaster risk management office noted that there were no evacuations of residents living along low-lying areas that were perennially flooded during continuous rains.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong suspended classes from kinder to elementary on Wednesday as monsoon rains continued in the city.
Local government units in the Cordillera Region – Tubo, in Abra; Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Benguet, Itgogon, Kabayan, Kibungan and La Trinidad, Benguet – also opted to declare class suspensions from kinder to senior high school as occasional strong winds and rains are still being experienced.
In Bulacan, six villages in four towns were inundated under half-foot to three feet of floodwater yesterday due to Manila Bay’s rising tide, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction The Philippine Coast Guard reported yesterday that 64 people remain stranded in various ports in Southern Tagalog and Northwestern Luzon because of Enteng.
Meanwhile, the Philip- pine Army brought food and other basic needs to families affected by Enteng in Milaor,
Camarines Sur yesterday. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Artemio Dumlao, Cesar Ramirez, Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Evelyn Macairan, Emmanuel Tupas