Nando exits; new low-pressure area spotted

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau spotted a new low-pressure area east of extreme northern Luzon yesterday as Tropical Storm Nando exited the Philippine area of responsibility.

Rene Paciente, weather forecasting section chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the new disturbance could intensify into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours.

However, he said it was not expected to directly affect any part of the country until the weekend.

“We expect sunny weather this weekend aside from isolated thunderstorms,” he said.

As of 10 a.m. yesterday, the low-pressure area was at 1,220 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon.

The new disturbance will be named Odette once it develops into a tropical cyclone.

Typhoon signals lifted

Meanwhile, PAGASA lifted all storm warning signals as Nando left the country.

The agency, however, continued to warn residents in Calayan, Babuyan and Batanes group of islands against possible flashfloods and landslides as Nando will still enhance the southwest monsoon and dump moderate to heavy rains over these areas.

PAGASA also warned against sea travel in northern Luzon.

Paciente said three or four cyclones are likely to enter the country next month.

He also advised the public to brace for stronger cyclones during the last quarter of the year as they usually reach the typhoon category and make landfall.

“The cyclones during the last quarter of the year move westward and make landfall over Southern Luzon or Visayas areas,” Paciente said.

7,000 affected

Nando has affected more than 7,000 persons or 1,537 families, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

A majority or 4,510 of the affected residents were from the Ilocos region, 2,685 from Eastern Visayas and 49 from the Cordilleras.

As of yesterday, 20 families from Tublay in Benguet and three from Laoag City have been displaced.

At least one person was earlier reported dead due to the storm.

Three persons also drowned in La Union and Isabela provinces, the La Union Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

The fatalities were identified as construction workers Ernie Zamora, 35, a resident of Muntinlupa City and Marcelo Abudo, a native of Pangasinan.

A report from Bacnotan police said the victims and other construction workers were swept away by huge waves when they took a dip at the beach in the village of Quirino.

The other fatality was identified as 62-year-old Santiago Bayang, who drowned in Cagayan River.

Calamity loan

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) is offering calamity loan to teachers and non-teaching personnel who were affected by the recent flooding brought by the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring.

DepEd Order 10 sets the maximum loan amount to P20,000 with interest rate of six percent per annum. The loan is payable in 24 equal monthly installments and is automatically deducted from payroll.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said applications for calamity loan must be received within two months after the area has been declared under a state of calamity.

“This is an urgent measure to promptly respond to our teachers who need help returning to their normal lives after tragedy,” Luistro said in a statement.

He said teachers and non-teaching personnel may also avail of emergency loans provided by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Pag-Ibig.

GSIS members may apply through any of the 147 GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks located within the calamity areas. Granting of emergency loans started last Aug. 24.

GSIS members may avail of the loan only if their area is under a state of calamity, Luistro said.

Eligible members may loan up to P20,000 payable in 36 monthly installments.

Under the Pag-Ibig Calamity Loan Program, the member must be a resident of the area declared under a state of calamity. He or she must have at least 24 months contributions, and an active member of the Pag-Ibig program, having made five contributions within the last six months prior to the application. – With Alexis Romero, Raymund Catindig