Storm Frank Hit Philippines

HELP SAVE HOMELESS FILIPINOS

Described as the worst typhoon to hit the Philippines so far this year by officials of the weather bureau, Typhoon “Frank” (international codename Fengshen) battered the Philippines over the weekend, leaving up to 229 dead.

The number is feared to rise significantly after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of Sibuyan Island in Romblon.

Disaster officials yesterday said most of the casualties died from drowning, with several provinces submerged.

The more than 700 people reported missing were passengers of the ferry M/V Princess of the Stars, which ran aground off Sibuyan Island, then capsized Saturday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Frank was expected to exit over the coast of Pangasinan last night and move toward the South China Sea.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a briefing of the National Disaster Coordinating Council at Camp Aguinaldo that as of the latest count, eight people had been confirmed dead, with the rest still being verified by field personnel.

In a briefing with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Duque said some of the deaths were reported in Maguindanao.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, said that based on field reports from his staff, the death toll had reached 229, with 101 reported in Iloilo alone.

The 72 missing in the Red Cross’ list does not include the passengers and crew of Princess of the Stars.

Iloilo Gov. Neil Tupas earlier said 59 people drowned in the province while another 40 were missing.

“Almost all the towns are covered by water. It’s like an ocean,” Tupas said, adding thousands have been displaced in the province that is home to 1.7 million people.

The NDCC said floods, storm surge and landslides mostly in the Visayas and Southern Tagalog have affected 366,444 people.

Of the total number of affected people, 182,686 were in the Western Visayas, including 155,005 in Antique province alone, the NDCC said.

The storm has stranded 5,095 passengers, 288 rolling cargo, 90 trucks, 59 passenger buses, 48 small vehicles, and eight sea vessels.

A total of 127 houses were also completely destroyed while 16 were partially damaged.

Power outages were reported in Odiongan town, Romblon province, Antique province, and Iloilo City.

Duque also said he received reports that the Aniway District Hospital in Iloilo, was submerged in floodwaters as deep as six feet.

State of calamity

Two municipalities in Bulacan-Paombong and Marilao were declared under a state of calamity, Gov. Joselito Mendoza said.

Paombong Mayor Donato Marcos told The STAR in a text message that the they do not yet have a report on the damages brought by Frank.

Acting Provincial Administrator Pearly Mendoza said that all 11 barangays in Obando town were flooded forcing at least 500 families to temporarily evacuate their homes.

Liz Mungcal, head of the provincial disaster coordinating office, said the Ipo Dam released 87 cubic meters per second (CMS), adding that water elevation at the giant Angat Dam as of 10 a.m. yesterday was at 195.80 meters.

The Zamboanga City government has also declared a state of calamity for selected areas battered and submerged by floods spawned by Frank, according to Mayor Celso Lobregat.

About 5,000 residents have been displaced throughout Saturday when rising flood water reached as high as a two-storey school building in Vitali district.

Rice fields also went under water while floods also washed out fish ponds.

Masbate Gov. Olga Kho has also placed the province under a state of calamity.

Kho said the typhoon forced the evacuation of some 1,372 families or 7,899 persons comprising 34 barangays in the towns of Cataigan, Cawayan, Claveria, Milagros, Mobo, Placer and Esperanza.

“I am appealing to the DSWD to help support the province’s relief operations,” said Kho.

Oplan Sagip

Capt. Carlo Ferrer, spokesman of the military’s National Capital Region Command said they have dispatched rescue personnel and vehicles in flooded areas in Metro Mania to assist affected residents.

The marines has also activated its disaster response unit and deployed these in the areas.

The air force would be deploying a C130 cargo plane to deliver relief goods from Villamor Air Base in Manila to Iloilo.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. alerted all police units in areas affected by Frank for possible disaster rescue and relief operations.

Razon activated Oplan Sagip, the disaster management and response plan of the PNP in all police regional offices affected by typhoon Frank in Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Southern and Central Mindanao, Caraga Region, Bicol Region, Southern Luzon, and Metro Manila.

The Special Action Force and Maritime Group which have units that specialize in disaster operations are on standby for possible deployment to affected areas.

Razon also alerted the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to assist local PNP units in monitoring market activities in coordination with local offices of the Department of Trade and Industry and government units to prevent unscrupulous traders, hoarders and profiteers from taking advantage of the emergency situation.

Storm signals

Nathaniel Cruz, weather branch chief of Pagasa, said Metro Manila and the western section of Luzon and Visayas would continue to experience moderate to heavy rains until today due to enhanced southwest monsoon (hanging habagat).

The eye of the typhoon passed east of Metro Manila yesterday morning and crossed Central Luzon.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, storm signal no. 3 was up in La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales and Pampanga.

Signal no. 2 was hoisted over Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, southern Aurora, northern Quezon, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Island, and Metro Manila.

Placed under signal no. 1 were Apayao, Cagayan, Kalinga, Isabela, the rest of Aurora, southern Quezon, Pollilio Island, Marinduque and Mindoro provinces.

Also at 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of the typhoon was located in the vicinity of Tarlac or 40 kms south of Dagupan, packing winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Frank was forecast to move north-northwest at 15 kph.

The weather disturbance is expected to be at 130 kms west of Laoag this afternoon; 310 kms west-northwest of Basco, Batanes tomorrow afternoon; and 530 kms north-northwest of Basco or 80 kms west of Taipei, Taiwan by Wednesday afternoon.

Pagasa said Frank would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over the western sections of southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Frank is the sixth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

“So far this is the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year,” Pagasa director Prisco Nilo earlier said.

Augmentation fund

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would ask for a P50-million augmentation fund from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to assist all typhoon victims in the country.

In a phone interview, DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the agency has started providing assistance to typhoon-affected families.

“The DSWD needs additional amount to cater to needs of several Filipinos who were affected by the typhoon,” she said.

Cabral also called on Filipinos to donate cash or relief goods such as food, beddings, blankets, water, and clothing, to “drop centers” located in all Petron stations and McDonald branches nationwide.