‘ MARING’ DEATH TOLL RISES TO 14
FOURTEEN persons have been reported dead but only five were confirmed by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as of Thursday after Tropical Storm “Maring” (Doksuri) rainfall severely affected areas in Luzon. NDRRMC spokesman Romina Marasigan said nine of the 14 reported dead will have to undergo verification by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). On Wednesday, the NDRRMC and police offices in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) reported 13 cases of deaths after Maring. Only five were confirmed by the national council – two teenagers who died after a landslide in Taytay, Rizal; a three-month- old baby boy from Lucena, Quezon; a man who drowned in Paranaque City; and another from Silang, Cavite who died while saving his children from rushing water river near their home. As of Thursday, a total of 7,600 families or 33,196 people were affected in at least 215 (villages) in Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Calabarzon. About 6,957 families or 30,255 persons are being served within and outside of the evacuation centers. Meanwhile, about 1,052 houses were damaged in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Quezon, of which, 892 partly while 160 are totally damaged.
SAYYAF MEMBER NABBED IN BULACAN
AN Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member wanted for rape and kidnap-for-ransom charges was arrested in the City of San Jose Del Monte (CSJDM), Bulacan on Tuesday. Supt. Fitz Macariola, city police chief identified the arrested ASG member as Rolly Alif, alias Al/Awliya, 33, of Jolo, Sulu but residing at Graceville 1, Barangay Muzon, CSJDM. Alif is under ASG leader Abdul Muin Sahiron accused in the abduction of six Jehovah’s Witness members on August 22, 2003 in Patikul, Sulu. One of the hostages, Amily Mantec, claimed she was raped by three ASG while two of the victims were beheaded before they managed to escaped on April 18, 2004. Macariola said Mantec identified Alif as one of the bandits who raped her. She is now under the Witness Protection Program of the Department of Justice. Alif is facing six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom.
NAVOTAS TRAINS WATER SEARCHERS, RESCUERS
NAVOTAS City, being surrounded by waters of Manila Bay must have more teams of water searchers and rescuers, Mayor John Rey Tiangco said, after the first batch of 18 local rescuers completed the seven- day Water Rescue and Search ( WASAR) training by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Tiangco and Vice Mayor Clint Geronimo cited the WASAR team during a simple ceremony at the City Hall Complex on Wednesday with city officials and (village) executives gracing the event. WASAR team is composed of select personnel from the police station, local Bureau of Fire Protection and as well as volunteer firefighters.
12 VIZCAYA VILLAGES GET DEEP WELL
DIADI, Nueva Vizcaya: In an effort to address the lack of safe public water supply, SN Aboitiz PowerMagat Inc. recently turned over 12 deep wells benefiting some 229 households with over a thousand individuals in this town. Five deep wells for Barangay Arwas, four in Barangay Escoting and three in Barangay Butao were inaugurated aimed to reduce dependence on private water sources and vulnerability of its residents to water-borne diseases for lack of a safe public water supply, Rhoda Santos, Corporate Communications manager, said. The wells were funded from the P200,000 provided to each village from SNAP’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program and the ER 1- 94 fund managed by the Department of Energy. Mayor Norma Miguel expressed gratitude to SNAP-Magat for supporting development projects and training local government units on developing project proposals to better utilize the CSR fund. Village leaders have also committed to maintaining the deep wells and made plans to organize a water users’ association for the proper use and maintenance of the wells.