Floods disrupt classes; new LPA spotted

Manila, Philippines -  Severe flooding caused by heavy rains that pounded Luzon late Sunday until early yesterday caused several cities and municipalities in Metro Manila and Central Luzon to suspend classes in pre-school, elementary and high school.

This developed as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said that typhoon “Butchoy” (international name Guchol) has moved further away from the country as another tropical storm is expected to enter the country tonight.

The cities of Malabon and Navotas in Metro Manila, and Olongapo City in Zambales were among the local government units (LGUs) that declared class suspension in all levels as a result of floods and rising water in their rivers up until morning.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro praised the LGUs for stepping up and assuming the responsibility given them by Malacañang to decide on class suspension in times of bad weather and floods.

Malacañang said the declaration of suspension of classes mainly relied on the situation in specific areas and on the discretion of concerned local government executives.

Under Executive Order 66 issued by President Aquino last month that implemented localized class suspension, LGUs have been given the responsibility to declare class suspensions in their respective jurisdictions during times of heavy rain and flood.

Malabon and Navotas suspended classes from kindergarten to college due to flash floods that were compounded by the 1.6-meter high tide.

Bong Padua, Malabon City public information office chief, said that although the weather improved in the afternoon, the city government decided to postpone whole day classes in “all levels” because of the high tide at 10 a.m.

He said that although the city’s 26 pumping stations helped in minimizing the effects of the floodwater, they wanted to protect students from possible harm.

Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco also suspended classes in all levels as they too were affected by flash flood and high tide.

The city has 26 working pumping stations but they were not enough to control the rising seawater.

Jane Banayad, Navotas public information officer, said that apart from the pumping stations, the city is also protected from an overflowing Tullahan River by at least 10 feet high river wall.

According to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), there was flooding in Barangay Catmon, Letre Road, Barangay Longos and General Luna in Malabon; Naval, the City Hall area and the North Bay Boulevard area in Navotas.

Except for the two cities, Metro Manila was practically spared from the flooding although the San Juan River overflowed and the Talayan area in Quezon City was knee-deep in water.

In Caloocan and Valenzuela, only a few schools suspended classes as both cities were not badly affected by the flash flood.

Classes in elementary and high school in Marikina were also suspended as the Montalban River rose to 23.6 meters in the morning, close to its critical level of 24 meters, although no flooding was monitored in major streets of the city.

Dam monitoring

In Bulacan, the reservoir of the Ipo dam released excess water after the spilling level of 100.1 meters was breached. Local officials announced that the auxiliary Bustos rubber dam has also opened two spill gates and released 48 cubic centimeters per second of water.

The water elevation at Angat dam was 189.04 meters, way below its spilling level of 212 meters.

Classes in elementary and high school in the towns of Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray and the coastal town of Obando were suspended.

In Guagua, Pampanga, classes in elementary and high school were suspended and local officials issued related warnings in low-lying areas.

At least 13 people have remained missing in the coastal area of Sarangani province.

The Philippine Army rescued 368 people from the flash floods in the town of Glan, while those who went missing were fishermen from the town of Maasim.

The municipality of Glan has been placed under a state of calamity.

Another tropical storm threatens the country

Meanwhile, PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said tropical storm with international name “Talim” was forecast to enter the Philippine territory tonight or early tomorrow.

It will be named “Carina” once inside the country’s area of responsibility.

“It (Talim) will enter PAR (Philippine area of responsibility) on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. It will not directly affect most parts of the country except for Batanes,” Servando told The STAR.

Servando said Talim would enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Northern Luzon and the western section of Central Luzon.

Butchoy, on the other hand, would continue to boost the southwest monsoon that will dump heavy rains over Luzon, particularly the western section and Visayas in the next few days, which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

Butchoy did not directly hit the country but brought heavy rains, triggering floods in some parts Luzon and Visayas.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Butchoy was spotted at 700 km northeast of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

The typhoon was moving north northeast at 30 kph.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Talim was located 800 km west of extreme Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It was forecast to move northeast slowly.

PAGASA warned operators of fishing boats and other small sea vessels not to venture into the seas of Luzon and Visayas due to the big waves generated by Butchoy and the southwest monsoon.

Butchoy was predicted to be at 1,030 km northeast of Basco, Batanes or at 290 km east northeast of Okinawa, Japan this morning.

PAGASA said Talim was expected to pass through the western part of Batanes and Taiwan, and would not likely interact with Butchoy. – Helen Flores, Non Alquitran, Jerry Botial, Pete Laude, Mike Frialde, Dino Balabo, Ric Sapnu, Edith Regalado, Aurea Calica