Typhoon Pedring dumped continued rains in some provinces in Bicol and Southern Luzon regions and in Northern Luzon, stranding a number of passengers and vehicles in at least three ports in Tabaco City, Bulan and Matnog in Sorsogon.
At least six fishermen from barangay Caranan in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, were reported missing as of Sunday evening after they sailed for fishing despite the bad weather.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the missing fishermen are Leopoldo Nidea, 37; Doikyam Degula, 35; Oliver Degula, 28; Francis Basqouinia, 23; Danilo de los Santos, 29; and Domingo Harold, 16.
In Balatan, Camarines Sur, the NDRRMC reported that a landslide struck a barangay on Sunday but as of Monday, at least 50 meters of the affected area have been cleared from soil debris.
Pedring’s heavy rains were felt in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, which are under Typhoon Signal No. 2, while Albay and Sorsogon experienced light to moderate rains.
The whole day downpour was also experienced in Metro Manila and adjoining regions.
Weather forecasters said the typhoon was gaining strength as it directly threatened the provinces of Aurora and Isabela.
It is expected in Casiguran, Aurora, today and would be 180 kilometers west, northwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, on Wednesday.
As it will enhance the prevailing southwest monsoon, widespread rains are being expected over Southern Luzon and in the Visayas.
Besides Metro Manila, the weather bureau said Storm Signal No. 1 was hoisted in the following areas: Masbate, Ticao Island, Marinduque, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Tarlac, Zambales, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Apayao, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands and Northern Samar.
Storm warning Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Quezon including Polilio Island, Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Ifugao, Cagayan, Sorsogon.
Weather forecaster Robert Sawi said the storm would bring 15 to 25 millimeter of rain per hour.
He said weather in most parts of Luzon is expected to worsen, with rains and gusty winds over the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon today.
He said the enhanced southwest monsoon would affect the western seaboards of Southern Luzon and the Visayas.
Pedring is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday evening.
The NDRRMC said at least 935 passengers were stranded in at least 15 big and small seaports in Albay, Masbate, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Quezon.
Classes in primary and secondary levels in Metro Manila and in Catanduanes and Camarines Sur were suspended.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda ordered the suspension of all classes from primary up to college in the province.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces put on standby all of their disaster response equipment and alerted their units for possible rescue operations.
On instructions of PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome, the PNP subcommittee on disaster management activated the national disaster operations center in Camp Crame to coordinate all PNP disaster response operations in the provincial and regional levels.
Director Rommel Heredia, PNP director for Police Community Relations and concurrent chairman of the committee, directed PNP regional offices in Northern and Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Metro Manila, including the Special Action Force and Maritime Group, to place their respective search-and-rescue teams on standby alert for any contingency.
Heredia also instructed Police regional offices to assist civil defense and local government personnel in the dissemination of weather bulletins and geohazard warning, and ensure maximum police visibility in affected communities.
On the other hand, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Eduardo Oban directed the Northern and Southern Luzon Commands to prepare their troops for disaster response, including rescue operations if needed.
He directed military commanders to coordinate with local disaster management councils for Pedring-related activities.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) announced the cancellations of some 17 domestic flights, which translates into 34 trips if the return flights were counted, as Pedring moves toward Aurora-Isabela provinces.
As of 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Philippine Airlines canceled flights PR 277/278, bound for Manila-Legazpi-Manila.
AirphilExpress canceled eight flights starting with 2P 261/262 bound for Manila-Masbate-Manila; 2P 021/022 Manila-Masbate-Manila; flight 2P 265/266 Manila-Naga-Manila and 2P 925/926 Manila-Legazpi-Manila.
Cebu Pacific canceled 18 flights namely: 5J 821/822 Manila-Virac-Manila; 5J 707/708 Manila-Calbayog-Manila; 5J 325/326 Manila-Legazpi-Manila; 5J 521/522 Manila-Naga-Manila; 5J 196/197 Manila-Cauayan-Manila; 5J 323/324 Manila-Cauayan-Manila; 5J 523/524 Manila-Naga-Manila; 5J 525/526 Manila-Naga-Manila; 5J 527/528 Manila-Legazpi-Manila.
On the other hand, Zest Air canceled six flights; Z2 260/261 Manila-Masbate-Manila; Z2 230/231 Manila-Virac-Manila; and Z2 220/221 Manila-Legazpi-Manila.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday filed a motion before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Makati City to allow the agency to roll down billboards along Edsa and other thoroughfares in view of the possible onslaught of Pedring.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said he find it necessary to file the motion believing it could help “prevent any possible accident or damage that may be brought upon to lives and properties by falling billboards along the major thoroughfares, particularly with the coming tropical storm.”
The motion was filed before RTC in Makati City Branch 133 Judge Elpidio Calis, in deference to the current status quo agreed upon by the agency and the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP) in the last court hearing held on September 21.
The MMDA head cited among his examples Typhoon Milenyo which hit Metro Manila in 2006 and toppled trees and billboards. A man was killed in Makati when a billboard fell on his vehicle.
“Our primary concern here is public safety,” Tolentino said.
On September 1 Calis granted the OAAP’s petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the anti-billboard campaign of the MMDA and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The TRO enjoined the MMDA to stop the enforcement of its Memorandum Circular 10 Series of 2011 regulating the display of advertising billboards along major roads and open spaces.
The TRO lapsed on September 22.
(With R. Mercene, C. Mocon)
