Up to 2 cyclones seen this month

MANILA, Philippines — There could be one or two tropical cyclones that will enter or develop within the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this month, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The average typhoon tracks recorded since 1948 show the weather disturbances are likely to make landfall over parts of Luzon and the Visayas.

PAGASA warned that the intensity of the cyclones for the month could reach typhoon and super-typhoon category.

The two potential cyclones will be named Marce and Nika.

These will come as parts of the country are still reeling from the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon these past few weeks.

Leon (Kong-rey) left PAR yesterday early morning after it battered Taiwan and weakened into a severe tropical storm.

The trough of Kong-rey is still bringing scattered rains over Palawan, while the easterlies are affecting the eastern sections of Luzon and the Visayas.

It will bring isolated rains over Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas.

Localized thunderstorms may bring isolated rains over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

PAGASA warned of flash floods or landslides due to moderate to, at times, heavy rains.

Classrooms destroyed

The education sector is expected to continue reeling from the impact of Kristine and Leon in the days to come as both typhoons caused a total of P987.5 million worth of damage to school infrastructure, the Department of Education’s (DepEd) latest data showed.

Based on the agency’s situational report collated from its field offices as of 11 a.m. yesterday, a total of 64 classrooms were destroyed and 125 classrooms were damaged by Leon. This was on top of 84 damaged toilets and 50 damaged wash facilities.

The cost needed for classroom reconstruction is at P160 million while P62.5 million is needed for “major repairs,” totaling P222.5 million, according to DepEd.

DepEd had earlier reported P765 million worth of damage to school infrastructure due to Kristine, with 223 classrooms destroyed and 415 classrooms damaged.

The agency also recorded non-infrastructure damage such as 1,229 damaged furniture, 5,760 damaged learning resources and 160 damaged computer equipment.

The DepEd said six schools have reported hazard incidents such as flooding and landslides, while 13 schools are still currently being used as evacuation centers.

A total of 10,947 schools nationwide had to suspend their classes since Oct. 28 due to the onslaught of Leon, with most of them remaining uncertain as to when classes can resume.

The DepEd said a total of 3,970,222 learners and 181,270 teaching and non-teaching personnel were affected by the class suspensions.

Ilocos Region was the most affected by Leon with 2,861 schools suspending their classes since Oct. 28. Cagayan Region also suspended classes on 2,539 schools.

Other regions with a high number of schools that suspended their classes were the Cordillera Administrative Region (1,844 schools), Bicol Region (1,650 schools), Central Luzon (1,557 schools) and Calabarzon (496 schools).

All schools in the said regions are still uncertain about the resumption of classes, with the exception of Central Luzon which has already resumed classes since Thursday.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier said DepEd has a quick response fund and rehabilitation fund that it can use for the repair or reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, though he did not give the exact amounts readily available for disbursement.

“As for smaller repairs, the schools also have their respective funds,” Angara said in a chance interview with reporters on the sidelines of a forum at the University of Philippines Diliman, Quezon City on Oct. 24.

Damage to roads

Ten national roads are closed to traffic while two national bridges remain unpassable due to Kristine and Leon, the Department of Public Works and Higways (DPWH) said yesterday.

In a report, the DPWH noted the national roads were affected by flooding, mudslides, rockfalls, landslides, collapsed soil, collapsed roads and road slips due to the strong winds and heavy rains caused by the two weather disturbances.

Three of the affected roads are in Albay and Camarines Sur, the provinces hardest hit by Kristine, while Batanes and Pampanga accounted for two roads each. The provinces of Apayao, Batangas and Cebu recorded one closed road each.

On the other hand, the Bugaan Bridge along Talisay-Laurel-Agoncillo Roads in Batangas collapsed as well as the Waras Bridge along Baao-Iriga City-Nabua Road in Camarines Sur.

“Six road sections have limited access due to road slip, scoured reinforced concrete pipe culvert, washed-out surfacing materials, collapsed road/pavement and soil collapse,” the DPWH added.

As part of its quick response operations, assets of the DPWH have been prepositioned to the affected areas comprising of 2,048 equipment and 9,005 personnel.

“All national roads and bridges in other affected regions are passable to all types of vehicles as of Oct. 31, 6 p.m.,” the report reads.

7.9 million people

A total of 7.9 million people from across the country, especially in the Bicol Region and Batanes, were affected by Kristine and Leon.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said the two tropical cyclones affected 2,028,282 families or 7,953,766 people nationwide.

As of yesterday, 81,716 families or 311,980 people remain temporarily housed in 1,980 different evacuation centers in various affected provinces and localities from 17 different regions.

Kristine’s death toll remained at 150 but the total number of people injured rose to 122 while those reported missing increased to 30.

The NDRRMC said the Bicol Region is still the hardest hit by Kristine with 649,122 families or 2,759,872 people from 2,733 different barangays affected by heavy rains, landslides and massive flooding.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Cagayan Valley reported severe damage in the province of Batanes due to Leon.

“The mainland Cagayan Valley has experienced fair weather, but our fellow citizens in the island province of Batanes bore the brunt of the typhoon,” OCD Region 2 director Leon Rafael said over PTV.

He said he has coordinated with Batanes Gov. Marilou Cayco and provincial disaster officials to assess the extent of the destruction.

“There has been damage to houses and various crops, as well as landslides on major roads in Batanes,” Rafael said.

Meanwhile, PAL Express has canceled four domestic flights to Basco, Batanes, namely flights 2P 2932/2933 (Manila-Basco-Manila) and 2P 2688/2689 (Clark-Basco-Clark). — Elizabeth Marcelo, Sheila Crisostomo, Michael Punongbayan, Rudy Santos