‘Egay’ gone, but rains continue
DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan/ SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Northern Luzon provinces started to pick up the pieces yesterday after severe tropical storm “Egay’s” fury last weekend that caused floods, landslides, and power outages, but spared millions from death.
Thunderstorms, though, continued to batter many parts of the north yesterday as Egay exited the landmass of Cagayan, forcing the suspension of classes even as far down south as Cavite.
La Union The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported restoring power transmission service to Balaoan, Bangar, Luna, Sudipen, and Santol, in La Union as of 11:30 a.m. yesterday.
NGCP Media Relations Officer Lilibeth Gaydowen said work continues to replace toppled poles on the Maragayap-Bulala 69kV line segment.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 1 spokesperson Esperanza Tinaza said the Luna-Bangar Road was still impassable to all types of vehicle due to waist deep flood water and advised motorists to take alternate route via Balaoan-Luna Road and Bacnotan-Luna Road.
In San Fernando City, La Union, Vice Mayor Hermenegildo Dong Gualberto suspended classes on all levels due to continuous rains.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council also reported the evacuation of residents in the coastal barangays of Ilocos Norte and Sur, Catbangen and five barangays in the rural areas since Sunday.
Ilocos Norte
Classes were also suspended in all of Ilocos Norte, said Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) Secretary Pedro Agcoili as his people assess the damage to infrastructure, crops and livestock caused by the storm.
Some areas of the first district of Ilocos Norte have also experienced a power outage due to damage to the 69 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines of the Northwind Power Corporation located in Burgos town.
Ilocos Sur
Ilocos Sur Governor Ryan Luis V. Singson also suspended classes on all levels yesterday in his province as massive clearing operations of debris along major roads were underway.
Clarence Ducusin, the spokesperson of the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative (ISECO), confirmed power has been restored early yesterday morning after a blackout Sunday evening.
Rizal
In Rizal province, some 40 families living in Antipolo City were evacuated following a minor soil erosion, said Mayor Casimiro “Junjun” Ynares, III.
Continuous rains prompted the mayor to suspend classes on all levels in the afternoon. The same observed in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Rizal Governor Rebecca “Nini” Ynares convened the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to assess the situation on the reports from the municipal disaster managers in the province since most parts of the province are vulnerable to flood and soil erosion.
Cavite Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. of Cavite suspended classes on all levels yesterday due to intermittent heavy rains.
Monsoon rains, spawned by severe tropical storm “Egay” (international name “Linfa”) started to pour in the province early Sunday morning.
Cavite, with six cities and 17 municipalities, was one of the provinces affected by “habagat” (southwest monsoon) in southern and northern Luzon. (With reports from Nel B. Andrade, Erwin G. Beleo, and Anthony Giron)