LPA causes flooding; work, class suspension

MTSAT ENHANCED IR Satellite Image for 1:32 p.m., 03 July 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Hours of heavy rain spawned by a low pressure area (LPA) off Batangas triggered floods in Metro Manila and provinces in Southern and Central Luzon, prompting the suspension of classes and work in several government offices, cancellation of domestic flights, heavy traffic in major roads and two major dams reaching critical levels.

The rain began pouring after midnight Monday and continuous to be felt until late Tuesday noon.

“Its circulation is wide, that’s why it affected a large area. It has a wide band of clouds. It’s a mini storm without the winds,” weather forecaster Jori Loiz said in an interview before noon Tuesday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration recorded light to moderate to heavy to intense rainfall in Tanay, Rizal; Sangley, Cavite, and Science Garden in Quezon City, becoming torrential at the Port Area in Manila.

Some 43.4 millimeters of rainfall (torrential) was recorded at the Port Area, 22.9 mm in Science Garden, and 22.4 mm in Sangley (both intense), all at around 3 a.m. Tuesday.

“It will continue to bring moderate to heavy rain over Central and Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, and even Western Visayas, but the rain will be isolated. By Thursday, we will have improving weather,’’ Loiz said.

The LPA, located 50 kilometers west southwest of Manila at 8 a.m., could develop into a depression while swirling away from the archipelago toward the West Philippine Sea, he said.

Ipo dam gates opened

Reaching critical level, Ipon Dam opened its gates early Tuesday to release water.

Pagasa hydrologist Sonia Serrano said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net that as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, Ipo dam has opened 2 gates at .30 meters each.

The current water level at Ipo dam was 100.5 meters, down from 101.5 meters at 7am. Ipo dam’s high water level was at 100.8 meters.

Water levels in several riverways were nearing critical spill levels according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) report Tuesday.

The Rosario Junction riverway had four flood gates open as of 6am, the NDRRMC said. Its currrent water level was 12.45 meters, just a few meters below the critical spill level of 13.8 meters.

The San Juan River’s water level was at 12.85, almost 1 meter above its critical spill level of 12 meters, it said.

All other riverways such as Sto. Nino, Pandacan, Angono, Montalban, and Nangka, were just below one meter of their respective spilling levels, the NDRRMC said.

Red alert on at La Mesa Dam

La Mesa Dam in Quezon City went on red alert Tuesday as water level reached 79.52 meters as of 11a.m., according to Manila Water Co. Inc., which monitors the water level in the dam.

The red alert was declared at 11:45 a.m., Manila Water communications manager Jeric Sevilla said via text message.

The water level at the reservoir increased by 4 centimeters per hour during the previous three hours with the height reaching 79.52 meters at 11 a.m., Sevilla said.

La Mesa is a spill dam, much like a giant infinity pool. The level at which water starts to overflow is 80.15 meters.

The excess water flows into the Tullahan River, which flows through the northern part of Quezon City, including the Fairview area, as well as the cities of Malabon, Valenzuela, and Caloocan. The river drains into Manila Bay.

As such, local government units or LGUs downstream of Tullahan River monitor the water levels in case households have to be evacuated due to expected flooding when La Mesa spills over amid heavy rains.

Domestic flights cancelled

Seven domestic flights from Caticlan bound for Manila and vice versa were cancelled. These were flight nos. 5J 902, 5J 911, 5J 912, 5J 905, 5J 906, 5J 915, 5J 916, NDRRMC said.

According to the media affairs division of the Manila International Airport Authority, as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, four Cebu Pacific flights to and from Naga and Busuanga were called off.

Also cancelled were two Airphil flights to and from Naga.

Work suspended

The Supreme Court, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Senate were among the first government offices to declare work suspension due to bad weather.

Acting Information Chief Atty. Gleo Guerra said work at the Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals and all lower courts in Metro Manila has suspended work at 1p.m.

The Supreme Court suspends work at 3 p.m., Guerra said.

She added that as per existing circular, provinces affected by the bad weather, work suspension will be upon the discretion of their Executive Judges.

Acting Media Information Bureau Director Edgardo Diansuy said the Ombudsman has already suspended work as per orders of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile declared cancellation of work at Senate as early as 10 a.m.

House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap at 2 p.m. Tuesday, also announced work suspension in Congress.

2 dead in Valenzuela

Two people were killed after a wall collapsed in Valenzuela City.

Police Officer 1 Darius Orale said the incident transpired along Libis Cabanatuan in Barangay (village) Gen T. de Leon Valenzuela City around 10 a.m.

No other report, he said, was available as of posting time.

Class suspension:

Classes suspended on Tuesday in public and private schools around Metro Manila and nearby provinces are as follows:

Makati City

Schools in barangays (villages) San Antonio, La Paz, Sta. Cruz, Pio del Pilar, and Singkamas

Marikina City

Afternoon classes: pre-school, elementary and high school (public and private)

(Suspension of classes for college students will be upon the discretion of school heads)

Madaluyong City

Afternoon classes: (12 noon onwards) pre-school, elementary and high school (public)

Parañaque City

Pre-school, elementary and high school (public and private)

College:

STI College

Pasay City

Pre-school, elementary and high school (public and private)

Navotas City

Pre-school, elementary and high school (public and private)

Manila City

Afternoon Classes: pre-school, elementary and high school (public)

College:

-12 noon onwards: all Polytechnic University of the Philippines campuses;

Sta Mesa, Commonwealth, San Juan And Taguig

-University of Santo Tomas: 12 noon onwards (all levels)

-University of the East, Manila (all levels)

-Letran Manila campus (12 noon onwards)

-De La Salle University classes at all levels in all campuses (1 p.m. onwards) (office work also suspended)

-Far Eastern University (12 noon onwards) (office work also suspended)

-University of the Philippines-Manila (12 noon onwards) (PGH operations will go on as usual)

-Ateneo de Manila: (3 p.m. onwards)

-STI College, Taft (from 1:30 p.m.)

Las Piñas City

pre-school, elementary and high school

Cainta City

pre-school, elementary and high school (public and private)

Caloocan City

All levels (public and private)

Pasig City

Child Development Center, Kapitolyo Pasig City (pre-school)

College:

-University of Asia & The Pacific (from 12 noon) (work suspended by 3 p.m.)

Muntinlupa City

All levels (public and private)

San Juan City

All levels

Quezon City

Afternoon classes: pre-school, elementary and high school (private and public)

Philippine Medical Women’s School: pre-school and elementary

Headway School Of Giftedness: pre-school and elementary

Eton International School

Flora Ilagan High School Pinyahan

Teachers Village East: pre-school

Pinyahan Elementary School (morning classes)

Taguig City

Pre-school, elementary and high school (public schools)

College:

Enderun Colleges (as of 1:15 p.m.)

Valenzuela City

Karuhatan Elementary School

Karuhatan High School

Batangas province

Talisay Batangas: elementary and high school

Laguna province

San Pablo, Laguna: pre-school, elementary and high school (public and private)

Cavite province

Bacoor City, Cavite: pre-school, elementary, high school (public and private)

Bulacan province

Obando, Bulacan: All levels (public and private)

Meycauayan, Bulacan: STI College

Rizal province

Academy Christian Excellence Montessori School in Cainta town

With reports from Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon, Tina Santos, Riza T. Olchondra, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Maila Ager, INQUIRER.net