Heavy rains cause flooding and flight cancellations

Metro Manila and nearby areas were at a standstill yesterday as heavy monsoon rains induced by tropical storm “Henry” (international name: Son-Tinh) and floods prompted Malacanang to suspend classes in all levels in public and private schools and work in government offices and disrupted public transport operations.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued Memorandum Circular 47 but which did not cover private companies and government agencies involved in disaster and relief operations. The Palace gave private firms the discretion to suspend work.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) raised a blue alert while the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) suspended its number coding traffic scheme.

Earlier yesterday, the Supreme Court, Senate and the Manila City government suspended operations.

The water level at the Marikina River is up to 16.7 metres, prompting the city government to raise the second alarm and urge 142,519 residents in lowlying areas to evacuate. The affected areas are Tumana, 43, 249; Nangka, 43,828; and Malanday, 55,442.

Public transport was also largely affected by the floods.

Six stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) were from gutter to knee-deep floods – R Papa and 5th Avenue were knee deep; Pedro Gil, United Nations and Bambang were gutter deep; and Balintawak gutter deep.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) suspended operations because its tracks were submerged in water.

Cebu Pacific flights to and from San Jose, Mindoro and Manila have been cancelled, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) cancelled their scheduled games yesterday.

The PBA announced that Game 2 of the semi-finals of the Ginebra-Rain or Shine game in Season 43 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals was reset for tomorrow at 7pm.

The NCAA seniors’ games, along with their high school counterparts, will be rescheduled later in the first round of eliminations.

San Beda University and Mapua University were supposed to shoot for a share of the lead against Jose Rizal University and Collegio de San Juan de Letran, respectively, while Perpetual Help’s bid to improve its record versus debuting Arellano was cut short.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of posting time, tropical storm “Henry” is out of the Philippines although a low pressure area (LPA) has been spotted 915 kilometres east of Aparri in Cagayan.

Aside from Metro Manila, also affected were Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro provinces, Palawan, and Western Visayas.

Motorists drive along a flooded street in Manila yesterday, as a tropical depression, locally named Henry, made landfall in northern Luzon island affecting suburban Manila and nearby provinces with monsoon rains.

Boys rest on a partially submerged bumper of a vehicle along a flooded street caused by monsoon rains and tropical storm Henry in Quezon city, Metro Manila, yesterday.

People cross a flooded street in Manila yesterday, as the tropical depression, made landfall in northern Luzon island.