STREET FLOODING The city government of Batac in Ilocos Norte province deploys trucks to help stranded motorists cross flooded roads along Banna Road in this photo taken on Wednesday. Batac and a large part of Ilocos Norte continue to endure widespread flooding due to rains dumped by Typhoon “Goring.” —PHOTO COURTESY OF BATAC CITY GOVERNMENT
Cagayan Valley region recorded the bulk of the initial P41 million in infrastructure damage attributed to Typhoon “Goring” (international name: Saola), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Wednesday.
Reports showed that Cagayan Valley reported P40 million in losses. The NDRRMC said Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marindque, Romblon and Palawan) reported infrastructure damage at P800,000, and the Cordillera with P375,000. The disaster response agency has yet to release data on agricultural losses.
While the NDRRMC had no reported typhoon-related casualties, a fisherman in Quezon province drowned on Tuesday after his boat was battered by strong waves and capsized in the waters off Mulanay town as Goring maintained its strength on Wednesday while heading southwest of Batanes province.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel for small vessels and fishing boats in southern Luzon due to rough sea conditions spawned by Goring and the “habagat” (southwest monsoon).
Reports from the Quezon police said that Marlon Ormacido, 49, of Mulanay town was on a fishing trip in Tayabas Bay when his boat overturned at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday amid bad weather in the area. Ormacido died while being taken to Bondoc Peninsula District Hospital in nearby Catanauan town.
In Cagayan province, a fisherman from Santa Ana town remains missing since he and a companion went out to sea despite heavy rains a week ago.
Marion Miranda, Santa Ana municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said Harold Tugade, 29, and a fellow fisherman went on a fishing trip on Aug. 23 but their boat capsized after encountering rough seas in the waters off Barangay San Vicente.
Reports said Tugade’s unidentified companion clung to a piece of driftwood until he was found by crew members of a passing boat the same day.
In Ilocos Norte province, heavy rains dumped by Goring, forced the suspension of government work and classes on Wednesday.
Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc urged private companies to cancel work as well to “safeguard their personnel.”
Since Tuesday, disaster response teams in Solsona town and Batac City have been monitoring the water levels of the Gasgas and Quiaoit rivers, as these could overflow.
Roads traversing Naguirangan and Rayuray villages in Batac were already flooded, rendering these impassable.
Some residents in Quiling Norte village, also in Batac, were rescued after being trapped by the rising floodwaters, the city government said.
Extended COC filing
Due to the bad weather, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has extended the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in Ilocos Norte to Monday, according to lawyer Noli Pipo, Comelec Ilocos regional director.
Pipo said they had to suspend the receipt of COC on Wednesday to ensure the safety of Comelec personnel and aspiring officials. The filing of COC began on Monday and is scheduled to end on Saturday.
On Tuesday, Manotoc canceled work in public offices in Ilocos Norte due to widespread flooding.
With the exception of Sunday (Sept. 3), Comelec personnel in Ilocos Norte will receive COC applications until Monday (Sept. 4), Pipo said, noting that this can still be extended depending on the declaration of work suspension in the coming days.
In Ilocos Sur, Gov. Jeremias Singson suspended classes at all levels of public and private schools in the province as a safety measure. Singson did not issue a suspension of work in government offices.
In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Goring was expected to move northwestward across the Luzon Strait until it exits the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still raised over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, northern portion of Apayao and the northwestern portion of Cagayan.
The enhanced southwest monsoon, the weather bureau said, will also bring occasional or monsoon rains over the Ilocos, Cordillera, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Western Visayas regions, and the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan and Aurora, and Metro Manila.
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