‘Inday’ exits as ‘Josie’ enters PAR
Severe tropical storm “Inday” (international name “Ampil”) has left the country’s area of responsibility but another low-pressure area (LPA) has developed into tropical depression “Josie.”
Before Saturday noon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted
tropical cyclone Signal No. 1 over Batanes, Northern Cagayan, Babuyan group of islands, Ilocos Norte, Northern portion of Ilocos Sur, Apayao, and Northern Abra.
‘Josie’ was located 195 kilometers west-northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur around 10 a.m. Saturday, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 60 kph. It is expected to move slowly northeast and leave PAR by Monday.
Scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains will prevail over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Zambales, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija due to Josie and southwest monsoon.
PAGASA reminded the public, especially those living near river channels, and in low-lying and mountainous areas to be on alert for possible flash flood or landslide.
Meanwhile, scattered light to moderate with occasional heavy rains are expected over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, and Aurora.
Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the western seaboard of Central Luzon, especially in areas under Signal No. 1.
Meanwhile, Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez declared a state of calamity yesterday after four days of rain caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon due to tropical storm ‘Inday’ flooded most areas in the city.
The heavy rains in the upland areasreportedly caused the Sinocolan River to overflow and breach its protective dikes causing floodwaters to overflow to low lying areas of Calasiao, Sta. Barbara and Dagupan City.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduc(MDRRMC) tion and Management office (DRRMO) declared a red alert and sent teams from other towns not affected by flooding to help flooded areas.
The rising floodwaters likewise rendered several national roads impassable. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 1 said parts of the Manila North Road in Urdaneta was hardly passable to medium trucks and motorists were advised to take the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx).
The Pangasinan DRRMO reported that the Mangatarem to San Clemente, Tarlac road was no longer passable.
As early as Thursday, the local government of Masantol, Pampanga declared a state of calamity after continuous heavy rains brought by tropical storms “Henry” and “Inday” affected thousands of families and losses on livelihood reached the million mark.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said all 26 barangays of Masantol town were submerged in two to five feet of floodwaters since Tuesday affecting some 5,514 families or 25,460 individuals.
Mayor Danilo Guintu said while the whole town was submerged in water, all major roads remain passable.
He said that the MDRRMC is monitoring six secondary dikes in Barangays Bagang, Cambasi, Nigui, Palimpe, Sagrada and Sta. Cruz due to reported minor damage and overflowing of the Pampanga River.
The MDRRMC estimated the damage on agricultural crops and livestock at million from the 2,500 hectares of fishpond damaged by the swelling of water tributaries.
“The simultaneous downpour of rain and occurrence of flash floods, high tide and descent of water from the upstream has also affected our agriculture sector which is the main source of livelihood in our town. Based on our assessment, a total of 950 fishpond operators were already affected,” Guintu said.(With reports from Jojo Riñoza and Franco G. Regala)