‘Falcon’ affects over 100,000 persons in Metro Manila, parts of Luzon—NDRRMC

PAGASA-DOST MTSAT-EIR Satellite Image for 11 p.m., 24 June 2011

MANILA, Philippines – A total of 33,429 families or 171,012 persons have been affected by the heavy rains brought by tropical storm Falcon (International name: Maeri), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday.

In its 12 noon bulletin, the NDRRMC said that the affected residents were from: the cities of Makati, Malabon, Manila, Marikina, Quezon, Taguig and Valenzuela, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Rizal and Albay.

No casualties have been reported thus far, Ramos said.

“Sa ngayon, awa ng diyos walang casualty, walang nasaktan, wala ring namatay, so maraming salamat sa pagtugon ng taumbayan [As for now, thank God that there is no casualty, no one got hurt or killed, so thanks to the response of the people,]” Ramos told reporters in a press briefing.

Meanwhile, 11 persons have remained missing in the Bicol region, the NDRRMC said. They were identified as: Rosa Belga Ordan, 54, who was swept away by raging waters in Sitio (sub-village)Buga, Barangay (village) Basag, Ligao City, Albay; Antonio Avila Bailon, Jason Balingit, Pedro Balingit, Nestor Tapit Mandasoc, Jonsy Rodriguez, Denver Sta. ines, Paquito Tabios, Prospero Tabios, Rolando sarmiento tabios and Vicente Rodriguez Tapit – all fishermen from Barangay San Vicente, Virac, Catanduanes who were reported missing Thursday after sailing in three different fishing boats despite the bad weather.

“These are sustenance fisherfolk na kailangan makakain yung pamilya nila ng araw-araw [whose families need to eat everyday],” Ramos said.

Nevertheless, Ramos advised other fisherfolk to no longer set out to sea, especially during bad weather.

“Ang maia-advise ko lang sa mga kababayan natin na mangingisda, wag lang naman pangingisda ang pagtuunan ng pansin para maging hanapbuhay [I can only advise our fishermen not to focus on fishing as a source of livelihood],” he said.

Despite the heavy rainfall, Ramos said that Falcon has had “good behaviour” since it did not make landfall, adding that they are not expecting big damages in agriculture. Initial reported damages to agriculture and infrastructure has reached P1.92 million in Zambales, the NDRRMC said.

“We don’t expect damages sa agriculture dahil [there is] nothing to destroy, sinira na ni Dodong, sinira na ni Egay, hindi nakapagtanim,” Ramos said, referring to the two weather disturbances that hit the country just days before Falcon.

As of posting time, Pagasa said that Falcon was 330 km east northeast of Tuguegarao City, still packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 100kph.

Falcon is forecast to move 19 kph north northwestward at 19 kph.

Signal No. 1 remains raised over the Calayan, Babuyan and Batanes groups of islands, Pagasa said. All signal warnings have been lowered elsewhere.

“Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides,” Pagasa said.

Falcon is forecast to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Falcon is expected to exit Philippine territory by Saturday morning and is forecast to be 500 km northeast of Basco, Batanes.