As hectares of agricultural lands are now showing ripples of flood waters in northern Philippines, dam managers are taking the heat for the widespread flooding brought by the return of typhoon Parma.

Similar to the aftermath of Parma’s predecessor, typhoon Ketsana, residents in the affected areas are blaming dam spillage as the cause of the vast flooding that damaged P7.17 billion-worth of properties and claimed 311 lives.

In an October 8 statement posted on its website, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) warned local government officials that the 221-kilometer Agno River, one the largest river systems in the country, “reached a very critical level.”

“The water level of Agno river has reached a very critical stage… It is still rising and the situation is very dangerous,” the NDCC said, adding that such information should be spread through local community leaders and local media to do all the necessary precautionary measures.

Apparently the warning did not reach everybody as a number of clueless residents, especially those in the municipalities where the Agno River stretches: San Manuel and San Nicolas in Pangasinan and Itogon in Benguet, were caught off-guard and trapped in their homes with no basic necessities like food and water.

According to Inquirer.net, administrators of the National Power Corp. (Napocor)-owned and San Roque Multi-Purpose Project (SRMP)-operated dam are now flooded with various criminal and civil suits to be filed by enraged residents and provincial officials.

“I have asked our lawyers to prepare a suit,” Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. was quoted by Inquirer.net.

Other local officials who are mulling to file suit are former Court of Appeals Associate Justice Teodoro Regino, who’s a resident of Dagupan City; Rosales Mayor Ricardo Revita, whose constituents were badly hit.

The academe also echoed the views of the local government officials saying dam managers, particularly of San Roque, have a lot of explaining to do.

University of the Philippines Geologist Catherine Abon told the Inquirer.net that when the dam officials opened the reservoir’s spillway gates ahead of reaching critical level, they hiked average flow by “more than tenfold.”

For his part, Giovanni Tapang, chairperson of a group of scientists called Agham said: “Based on our computation, it was unbelievable that with 5,000 cubic meters released per second, it was like having a billion balikbayan boxes dumped on Pangasinan in a day.”

“As early as Oct. 4, there was already a huge spike in water levels in the dam. Why did they release water only on Oct. 7, 8 and 9? Did they just want to gather enough water for its power generation?” Tapang questioned.

The towns of San Manuel, San Nicolas, Tayug, Sta. Maria, Asingan, Villasis, Alcala, Bautista, Rosales and Bayambang were some of the heavily-flooded areas. Other dams that released water were the Ambuklao Dam and Binga Dam in Benguet, which have opened two gates each.

Meanwhile, San Roque Dam officials have remained tight-lipped on the pending class suit to be slapped against them.

[Sources: Inquirer.net and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC)]

If the recent floods have taught us anything, it’s the fact that nothing beats being prepared. The rains are inevitable and so is the watery onslaught of the rising flood waters. By now, everyone has a working knowledge of areas that will likely turn into a metropolitan-sized swimming pools. Should you still end up living in these places, better brace for impact. You may be powerless to stem the deluge, but you can still do something.

Next to a metal-mangling smash-up, the most horrible thing that could happen to any motorist right now is ending up with a flood-damaged vehicle. Apart from the astronomical car repair bills, there’s the niggling thought that your car will never be the same again once it comes back from the shop. To save a lot of us from further anxiety, Top Gear Philippines has come up with a dozen things that car owners should do in a deluge. Some tips are practical, including raising your car on jacks, tying the car down with cables or wrapping the tailpipe in plastic so water won’t enter through the exhaust. Others tips require more technical know-how such as removing the car’s ECU and accessing the throttle body and sealing the air intake hose. If you are not familiar with these steps, by all means, try to study them while the skies are clear.

[Source: Top Gear Philippines]

The country’s National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has recently released a report on the estimated damages that the metro-wide flooding caused. The report reveals  that P 3.9 billion worth of infrastructure and P6.7 billion worth of agricultural resources were lost in the Ketsana aftermath.

The report, however, was undermined by an independent study that calculated the economic losses based on the combined government figures given by the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, and  other related statistical reports. In a GMA7 report, it was assessed that Ketsana blew up as much as P23 billion ($500 M USD), a strong implication that the government is miscalculating, if not underestimating, the havoc wreaked by Ketsana.

The study showed that losses on agricultural production like irrigation and flood control amounted to P 6.7 B; on infrastructure like bridges and roads, P2.5 B; on schools, P550 M; on hospitals and health facilities, P9.4 B; on government assistance, P96 M; on housing P3.2 B; and on electricity, P830 M. These however, are just nominal losses, and do not include losses from expected revenues, which are estimated to be P2.1 B; aviation revenues, P239 M, foregone earnings of the dead, 360 M, and earnings of the affected, 2.3 B.

And the P23-billion loss report even admits that it is still being conservative.  The figures used in calculating the losses are still incomplete due the limited data from the government and the private sector. The report, for instance, does not count destroyed private properties and household items, business establishments’ damages, sanitation and garbage disposal expenses, environmental costs, medical and burial expenses, among many others.

Metropolitan Manila, the National Capital Region, is the country’s center of economic activities, so it financial losses during a catastrophe are expectedly overwhelming. Up to now, local and international media continue to paint Manila as a city of typhoon survivors drenched in stinking flood water and left with depressing, devastated shelters.

The Philippine government tries to appear strong as it under reports the impact of Ketsana. Such move pulls toward two opposite trajectories: first, that the government wants to lessen the drama that Filipinos feel by not disclosing the truth, and second, that it wants to keep the real figures secret so it won’t feel guilty about the losses to which it is greatly accountable for, given its unpreparedness for disasters and its lack of disaster economic management plans.

[Source: GMANews.TV]

Following two devastating typhoons that destroyed farmlands and roads and killed over 650 people, the Philippines ordered the importation of 250,000 tons of rice on Monday.

Announcing a tender on October 30 for the rice shipment, the country’s National Food Authority wanted the delivery between January and April. Arthur Yap, Agriculture secretary, said that although the two storms caused some 11 billion pesos of damage on crops, he said that there is no shortage of rice. Most of the rice will come from Vietnam as part of an intergovernmental deal. The Philippines is eyeing to purchase about 2 million tons of the grain for its 2010 needs after the losses caused by the two typhoons. The figure is up by 13% as compared to this year’s rice figure, which is at 1.775 million tons.

Roads and bridges damaged by the storms are estimated at about 4.77 billion pesos.

It can be remembered that Typhoon Ketsana wrecked havoc last September 26, killing 337 people in and around Metro Manila and also displaced almost half a million people from their houses. Another storm, Parma, which hit Northern Luzon on October 3, battered the northern Philippines for over a week, and thus flooded huge areas in the rice-growing provinces of northern Luzon and took away 314 lives due to drowning and landslides.

The biggest town of the north, Baguio City, was cut off from the rest of the country due to landslides. Highway officials said already one lane is open for light vehicles, and that dynamite was being used by workers to remove large boulders that blocked major roads.

The government now is contemplating a $1 billion rehabilitation plan for the typhoon-hit areas, and the funding will come mainly from abroad. In addition, the House of Representatives is rushing some 10 billion pesos supplemental budget for relief works and could be approved Monday.

In addition to landslides in the mountains, Parma overflowed rivers and reservoirs, forcing hydropower and irrigation dams to release water and cause more flooding downstream.

[Source: Yahoo.com]

Much of the Philippines’ premier urban area is actually built on a sprawling flood plain, and on the surface, much of the ground in its 16 cities and lone municipality has been leveled or flattened to accommodate extensive urban development. According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) website, Metro Manila “is relatively flat of about 0.81% to very gently sloping at 3.17%.”

Let’s take a short trip around some parts of Metro Manila and check out what’s up (literally) and what’s not:

Caloocan has two geographical zones, namely the coastal areas of in the southern part and the so-called Guadalupe Plateau. The southern part encompasses barely-noticeable foothills along with former tidal flats and flood plain areas, especially in the Dagat-Dagatan area, which is 0.992 meters below sea level.

Perenially-flooded Malabon is actually below sea level, and in fact is amusingly referred to as Metro Manila’s counterpart of Venice.  People in many of the city’s 21 barangays are so used to flooding that many residents keep boats. It doesn’t help that Malabon is also a seaside community.

The City of Manila is historically flood-prone due to the fact that it lies at the mouth of the Pasig River and is built on a riverine network of streams, rivulets, tributaries, creeks and canals, majority of which were eventually obliterated. As a result, even mere rains cause immediate flooding.

Marikina, the scene of some of the worst flooding recently, is located right in the center of a low valley with the Marikina River snaking through. Except for a few areas like Marikina Heights, the terrain is generally flat.

Muntinlupa has some areas that are above sea level, with some hilly areas reaching to more than 60 meters in the western part, but the terrain is generally flat to slopping towards the eastern part.

Seaside Navotas, dubbed as the “Fishing Capital of the Philippines”, is no different from neighboring Malabon’s malady. The city is a long and narrow delta, with as much as two-thirds of it below sea level.

Pasay is characterized by coastal plains along the Manila Bay area in the west and sloping areas towards the southeast. The coastal plains generally rise to only 2 meters, but can reach up to 24 meters on the southeastern part.

Bearing the name of its famous river, Pasig is generally flat terrain, except for a few areas such as Pineda, Kapitolyo, Oranbo and Ortigas Center. Flooding has always occurred in areas that were normally rice fields before urban development took over.

Pateros, the metropolis’ lone municipality, averages only up to 2-3 meters above sea level at its highest elevation. Hardly noticeable, it slopes reach up to only 2.5%, generally slanting downward towards Laguna de Bay.

San Juan has some of the highest areas in Metro Manila. In fact, one area is called Little Baguio due to its elevation. San Juan is generally hilly terrain, evident up to now in the many winding, narrow streets and its original name San Juan de los Montes, which is Spanish for “St. John of the Mountains”.

Many areas of Taguig are traditionally prone to flooding, especially towards Laguna de Bay, but it actually has a lot of elevated areas, with some parts reaching 51 meters high.  The ultramodern  Bonifacio Global City is relatively flat but is on high ground.

Surprisingly, and given its proximity to Manila Bay, Valenzuela’s highest point is 38 meters, but much of the city is only 2 meters above sea level.  Flooding also occurs in areas such as Arkong Bato, but not to the extent experienced in neighboring Malabon and Navotas.

SOURCES

answers.yahoo.com

tagalog-dictionary.com

wikipedia.org

mmda.gov.ph

en.wikipedia.org

The Philippines has issued warning over the rapid spread of epidemics among the flood victims poorly crammed in improvised evacuation centers after the threatening floods. The country fears that disease outbreaks like swine flu, diarrhea and other bacterial disease such as leptospirosis would hasten in the course of Ondoy’s aftermath, aggravating the victims’ condition.
It has been estimated that 340,000 evacuees crowded the makeshift centers, and the government is uncertain where to put those homeless after the tragedy. International agencies have upped their efforts to help the flood victims.

RP Health Secretary Francisco Duque says, “Epidemic potential in some areas is very, very high.” As reflected upon the situation in a camp in Marilao where numerous cases of diarrhea have been detected, Duque said that such scenario could mean more directives to help protect the victims from the so-called WILD diseases–waterborne infectious diseases, influenza, leptospirosis and dengue.

Gawad Kalinga (GK), one of the country’s leading socio-civic organization, said in a statement that disease control should top the list of priorities of government officials as victims are being swathed with fungal infections and other life-threatening diseases.

Overwhelmed by the victims’ health condition, Duque said that the agency has formed medical teams who will conduct immunizations against measles and render Vitamin A for the victims’ increased resistance. Duque adds, “Water and sanitation and hygiene are the heaviest problems. We will address this. That’s why we need to go to each emergency center and learn the evacuees’ condition.”

Amid the worsening condition in the makeshift centers, help pours from both government and non-government entities, pitching in monetary and non-monetary support for the evacuees. The government has received more than enough donations of much-needed medicines and supplies and grants to fund efforts to alleviate health problems.  Among those who donated were the UNICEF, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

Duque said that the medicines are being distributed to priority areas including Cainta, Rizal, Marikina City, and parts of Quezon City and Camanava regions (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela).

Meanwhile, glimpses of hope still thrive on the victims as reports say that the dazed evacuees are looking forward to a brighter future. Even with this instance, the victims are also in deep need of psychological healing to be able to completely recover from Ondoy’s wrath.

[Credits: AFP, Manila Times, Newsbreak.com.ph; ABS-CBN News.com]

Malacañang has appealed to critics to set aside politics as the nation struggles to recover from the wrath brought forth by the storms Ondoy and Pepeng.  House Speaker Prospero Nograles has pleaded government allies to observe moratorium on political intrigues and focus on noble cooperation in country’s relief efforts. This is in line with criticisms relating to abominable campaigners taking advantage of the calamity fund.

As senators dread the thought of unprincipled local officials exploiting the country under the state of calamity by drawing off funds into their 2010 campaign, the government has made a statement answering their plea concerning unscrupulous political motives.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said, “We have to give assumption of regularity in the handling of this one and we could only suggest we should not inject politics here. It should not be done that way.”

Critics of the administration have been doubtful of its decision to include provinces and cities in the presidential declaration even though they were not affected by the storms. Opposition lawmakers have shown suspicion over Congress’ decision to augment the nation’s calamity budget, adding P10 billion to RP’s depleting calamity fund. They have demanded for an explanation of as to how the P2 billion was suddenly down to P24 million before they show support for the P10-billion supplemental budget.

To answer their call, Ermita explained that the unaffected regions were included so as to make local government officials prepared when a disaster strikes. In addition, Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo told media that the unaffected areas were included as they were persuaded to offer monetary assistance to poor cities hit by the storms.

Ermita emphasized that through the state of national calamity, the administration safeguarded the public from problems including hoarding. He assured the nation that the fund is “properly handled” by the National Disaster Coordination Council (NDCC) and local government units. He also stressed that the Commission on Audit (COA) “is very much on the ground to make sure (the) expenses are proper.”

[Credits: GMA News.TV, Inquirer.net]

Melor ravages Japan What started as a tropical depression, typhoon Melor gained strength and ravaged Japan with strong winds and heavy rainfall, leaving two people dead and properties damaged.

The storm that hit landfall yesterday morning, October 8, claimed the lives of a 54-year-old newspaper delivery man in Wakayama, who ran into a fallen tree, and a 69-year-old man from Saitama, who was crushed by a tree. Melor also injured some 64 people.

Despite destroying infrastructure, decapitating power lines, stalling transportation and flooding roads in western and northern Japan, Melor was not as powerful as previously feared by meteorologists.

“Still, initial damage reports suggested the typhoon, while powerful, did not cause the type of widespread devastation initially feared,” the Wall Street Journal reported.

Weather watchers in Japan have been warning that Melor had the makings of the most fatal typhoon to hit the country in over a ten-year period. After the hit on Thursday, Melor is now the first typhoon to reach landfall in Japan in two years.

Citing data from Japan’s weather agency, the Wall Street Journal reported that during the peak of Melor’s wrath, it brought winds of 160 kilometers per hour and poured 30 centimeters of rain in some regions.

Production facilities of Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Sony Corp. were affected by Melor. Car manufacturers Toyota and Honda closed their factories in central Japan while Sony delayed the opening of four plants in Aichi, Gifu and Shizuoka regions.

Many commuters were also stranded as bullet train services and other rail lines were suspended. Major subways and thoroughfares were also closed during the day. Over 400 flights were also cancelled.

Classes were also suspended in public elementary and middle schools in Tokyo and Osaka as a precautionary measure.

Late Thursday, Japan’s meteorological agency said, Melor lost steam and headed out to sea.

Aside from Melor, Asia has been hit hard by a series of powerful typhoons, the strongest of which was typhoon Ketsana, leaving some 400 people dead in the Philippines and Vietnam.

[Sources: The Wall Street Journal and Physorg.com]

Two weeks after Ondoy’s onslaught, most Manila residents are suddenly in the dark, literally. Last Wednesday, a transformer belonging to a substation of the National Grid Corporation in Taytay, Rizal caught fire. This greatly affected the power supply in several areas in and around Manila including Rizal, Pasig, Cainta, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Antipolo, and Quezon City. Most of the aforementioned areas are still reeling from the devastating flood waters brought by Ondoy. Late yesterday evening, the affected areas started experiencing 3-hour blackouts.  Meralco is working on restoring power to these areas but the power distribution company said there may be more blackouts in the next few days during the evenings.

Besides private residences, commercial establishments such as SM Megamall was affected by power outages a few hours ago, halting the operation of its escalators and elevators. The MRT trains were also affected. Operations of the busy rail transport system had to be shut down because of intermittent power supply.