2 dead, hundreds homeless as rain, winds batter North Luzon

 Man killed as landslide hits truck along Halsema 

BAGUIO CITY – Hundreds were displaced in Northern and Central Luzon due to flooding even as two persons were killed, two injured while three were missing due to landslides, typhoon and monsoon-related accidents in Cordillera last week.  

In Atok, Benguet, a man was killed when the vehicle he was driving fell down km 58 of the Halsema Highway at Barangay Cattubo on Tuesday around 12: 45 a.m.

The vehicle was an Isuzu elf bearing license plate no WLZ 158 driven by Rodrigo Navalta Maon.

Investigation showed the vehicle was on its way to Baguio City when it was hit by a landslide which pushed the vehicle towards the ravine around 20 meters deep.

Concerned citizens retrieved the vehicle and lifeless body of Maon. A passenger was rescued and brought to a hospital in Buguias, Benguet for medication.

In Baguio City, a man who slipped into a canal in the midst of heavy rains wrought by the “habagat” or southwest monsoon on August 11 remained in Tuba, Benguet as search and rescue operations continued.

Police identified the missing victim as Mencio Abol Amitem, 57, married, driver and resident of Pula, Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet.

Investigation showed Amitem fell into a drainage canal and was swept by the strong current of water going down to Barangay Badiwan, Tuba around 11:30 p.m. that night.

The driver of a Tamaraw FX was helping carry a box of groceries for two ladies when he slipped while crossing a footbridge and fell right into the open sewage canal, investigators said.

In Mankayan, Benguet, a certain Luvina Julian Kidkid, married, barangay secretary and resident of Barangay Bedbed was buried by a landslide Monday around 1 p.m.

Investigation showed Kidkid and her companions were clearing the foot path along Bebbed when the landslide occurred. 

Her companions were able to run from the site except for Kidkid who was left behind since she had difficulty going away due to mud.

In Tuba, Benguet on Monday, a certain Krystel Marlin, 19, single, of Samar, Leyte, residing in Tesda, Loakan, Baguio City fell at an open box culvert canal at about 7:50 p.m. in front of Ever lodge, Badiwan, Marcos Highway.

Investigation showed that the victim had a heated argument with her partner Marvin Feliciano Ruiz, 46, married, businessman and a resident of Sumabnit, Binalonan, Pangasinan.

The victim walked away and went along Badiwan Road. Ruiz followed her for reconciliation, but the victim lost balance, fell on the canal and was washed by strong water current. Tuba police are still conducting search and rescue operations to find Marlin.

Meanwhile, six major roads in the Cordillera Administrative Region were in close-open situation due to landslides.

The Office of the Civil Defense-CAR advised motorists and residents that Kennon Road in Baguio City remains closed.

Also, other roads inaccessible to the public were Abra – Ilocos Norte Road; Nagaparan Danglas-Abra Road; Abra-Kalinga Road; Governor Bado Dangwa National Road; and Tabuk Banaue Road via Tanudan Barlig Road.

Meanwhile, three barangays were isolated by flooding in Abra Province after nearby rivers burst its banks.

These were Barangays Pakiling Bucay, Bakabak Supo Tubo, and Poblacion, San Quintin in Abra Province.

The entire Cordillera Region remained under blue alert status, according to OCD-CAR.

Due to continuous heavy rains, Binga and Ambuklao dams released water. San Roque Dam in San Manuel, Pangasinan, where the waters flowed also released its spillway resulting to flooding in Pangasinan towns. 

Hiking, trekking and all other tourism activities in the following areas were suspended due to bad weather: Mt. Pulag, Kabayan, Benguet; Mt. Purgatory, Bokod, Benguet; Mt. Pigingan, Barangay Dalupirip, Itogon, Benguet ; Mt Ulap, Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet; Sagada, Mt, Province, spelunking activities.

All mining activities for Itogon, Benguet were suspended due to inclement weather. Small-scale mining activities in all parts of Benguet are also suspended.

Classes in Baguio and Benguet were also suspended Monday and Tuesday.

In Pangasinan, forced evacuations was ordered by Gov. Amado “Pogi” Espino, III in riverside villages as Agno River continued to swell following dam discharges since last week.

Authorities implemented forced evacuation in Sitio Sta. Cruz Macayo and Sitio Patalan San Pedro Ili in Alcala and in Bautista.

Meanwhile, Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco said released water of San Roque Dam affected 17 towns and one city, especially those along the Agno River.

To date in Pangasinan, a total of 410 families are now in various evacuation centers such as in Calasiao (51 families), Lingayen (7), Dagupan (24), Urdaneta (125), Mangatarem (15), Sta. Barbara (86), San Carlos City (28), Bugallon (18), Bayambang (20), Aguilar (36) and in San Nicholas (14 individuals).

Meanwhile, Esperanza Tinaza information officer of DPWH Region 1 said all national roads and bridges were passable but Garrita Bridge in Bani, Pangasinan was passable to light vehicles only.

Not passable to light vehicles were: Urdaneta Junction-Dagupan Road, Calasiao old road and San Carlos-Calasiao Road.

Massive flooding in the towns of Sta Barbara, Calasiao and Dagupan City had made the people cry because of undetermined damages on properties, houses, and even cars.

The Pangasinenses were alarmed because it was the first time in history that the level of water was too high on July 21 and on Aug 13.

And it was also noticed that the old church in Calasiao, Saint Peter and Paul Parish church was flooded almost knee high and the town proper of Calasiao reached waist deep on July 21.

On the part of Department of Public Works and Highways, Esperanza Tinaza, information officer of Region 1 said that based on the monitoring, there was a leakage from a portion of the dike in Barangay Alibago in Sta Barbara on July 21.

The leakage was due to strong water current from the swollen Sinocalan River.

In Bulacan, Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said massive flooding has prompted local governments units to declare a state of calamity in four municipalities and the City of Meycauayan.

In Bulacan, Gov. Alvarado said 171 villages in 13 towns and two cities of the province continued to be inundated as of presstime.
Citing the report of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office he said that the municipalities of Marilao, Calumpit, Hagonoy, and

Paombong and the city of Meycauayan have been placed under a state of calamity.

PDRRMO executive officer Liz Mungcal said the number of affected families in the 12 towns and two cities flooded in Bulacan has reached to 126,422 or 619,969 individuals. Of this number, some 1,706 families or 8,526 persons were evacuated to 30 evacuation centers in the different parts of the province. – With reports from Liezle Basa Iñigo and Freddie Velez