2 more LPAs expected within PAR next week

MANILA, Philippines —  Two tropical cyclones may form or enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by next week, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported 2.1 million Filipinos affected by Tropical Storm Enteng.

The death toll, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), rose to 13 persons – seven from Calabarzon, three from Bicol, two from Central Visayas and one from Western Visayas.

The Philippine Coast Guard and other emergency response agencies also continue to search for 15 persons still listed as missing.

According to PAGASA, the two tropical cyclones will be named Ferdie and Gener, and could possibly be the sixth and seventh weather disturbances to enter PAR.

The first low-pressure area is expected to form east of Luzon and within PAR by the weekend or by Monday and will move northeastward.

It will enhance the southwest monsoon but will not make landfall.

The second LPA is expected to form by Monday near Guam, move westward and enter PAR as a cyclone. It has a low chance of making landfall in the country.

PAGASA clarified, though, that the forecast tracks could still change.

As of yesterday, the trough of Enteng (international name Yagi) brought scattered rains over Batanes and Babuyan islands.

Monsoon rains are forecast over Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan provinces as well as occasional rains over Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the rest of Ilocos region and Central Luzon.

Scattered rains are forecast over Palawan, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon and the rest of Cagayan Valley. The rest of the country may see isolated rains due to localized thunderstorms.

Classes remained suspended in several localities yesterday due to inclement weather caused by Enteng and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat.

While Enteng has already left PAR, heavy downpour was still experienced in large parts of Luzon, including in Metro Manila, prompting several local government units to declare class suspensions in public and private schools across all grade levels.

Several LGUs in the Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa have also suspended classes in all public and private schools in all levels.

Some schools, however, opted to conduct online classes.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the total cost of humanitarian assistance extended reached P102.5 million.

The agency has P134.6 million in remaining standby funds although it has already requested the Department of Budget and Management for P875 million as “replenishment” and augmentation for the quick response funds.

Dumlao said 547,000 families are affected nationwide.

Of the figure, 267,073 families (1,092,422 persons) are from the Bicol region and 103,192 from Central Luzon, the NDRRMC said.

Dumlao also said 41,354 persons or 10,990 families continued to stay in 386 evacuation centers in Metro Manila, Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) and Mimaropa (Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).

Both the Philippine Red Cross and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. reported having given health and food assistance to communities in Metro Manila and in Laguna and Cavite provinces.

Also yesterday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices of Pampanga and Bulacan reported 57 and 92 barangays, respectively, as still being under floodwater.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil gave assurance that the PNP would continue to assist those affected by the onslaught of Enteng.

Marbil said units were assigned to keep peace and order at evacuation centers as well as help in search and rescue efforts.

The Department of Public Works and Highways placed the estimated damage to national roads, bridges and flood control structures in five regions in Luzon and Visayas at P139.56 million as of yesterday noon. –  Delon Porcalla, Michael Punongbayan, Emmanuel Tupas, Rainier Allan Ronda, Rhodina Villanueva, Elizabeth Marcelo, Ed Amoroso, Rudy Santos, Ric Sapnu, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Mark Ernest Villeza