CAGAYAN DE ORO RAIN IN 1 DAY EXCEEDED MONTH'S AVERAGE / NOY: PRIORITY NOW IS HELP BEFORE ANY PROBE
[PHOTO- Residents retrieve usable items from their destroyed houses yesterday after a flash flooding in Cagayan De Oro city. AP]
MANILA, DECEMBER 19, 2011 (STAR) By Helen Flores - Rains dumped by tropical storm "Sendong" (international name "Washi") in Cagayan de Oro City in a day surpassed the average rainfall in the city for the month of December, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
PAGASA forecaster Jorie Lois said a total of 181 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in Cagayan de Oro starting Friday, exceeding its average of 99.9 mm for this month.
Cagayan de Oro reported 215 dead, and nearby Iligan City lost 144 residents, according to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). Deaths in Cagayan de Oro were attributed to flashfloods and landslides due to heavy rains.
PRC officials warned that the final toll would likely rise as more bodies are found.
Lois said the highest volume of rain due to Sendong was recorded in Cagayan de Oro between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. last Saturday at 75 mm, or an average of 25 mm per hour.
Lois said PAGASA has no record of rainfall in Iligan City for Dec. 17 because it has no synoptic station in the area.
Meanwhile, Science Secretary Mario Montejo defended yesterday the forecast made by PAGASA for Sendong.
The weather bureau is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology.
"The projected track of the storm did not change. PAGASA was also able to give the estimated amount of rainfall that could be dumped by the storm," he said, adding that the public had been warned that the concentration of rains will be in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Malacañang also took the side of PAGASA, saying there is really no accurate forecast that would predict how harsh a typhoon would hit an area since it's a natural phenomenon. - With Delon Porcalla
'We will extend help first before any probe' By Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) Updated December 19, 2011 12:00 AM
[PHOTO - Residents return to their homes to save some household items yesterday in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. Tropical storm 'Sendong' triggered flash floods in the South, leaving scores of people dead and missing. AP]
MANILA, Philippines - First things first. Malacañang said yesterday it would focus first on extending help to the victims of flashfloods in Mindanao before any investigation on where the culpability lies for the tragedy that left hundreds dead.
"At this point, we should not focus first on accountability but rather on helping the victims. Liability can be determined later. We have conflicting reports," Undersecretary Abigail Valte said in an interview over state-run radio station dzRB.
Valte said there have been adequate warnings from as early as Dec. 14, but that the residents refused to heed the government agencies' advisories.
"We have people on the ground saying that there was an adequate warning but the residents did not heed it," she said.
"I also remember there was an interview of Congressman Rufus Rodriguez of CDO (Cagayan de Oro) that yes, they were warned and this happened," she said.
She refused to say whether heads would roll on this particular issue.
"Let's see. At this point, as I said, allow me to reiterate that we would like to concentrate first on rendering assistance. The usual assessment will come after," Valte said.
Meanwhile, President Aquino will be holding a Cabinet meeting today to map out plans on how to extend assistance to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City, which were hardest hit by the flashfloods last Friday.
The President will also most probably visit Cagayan de Oro and Iligan tomorrow following visits made by the Presidential Management Staff in the areas devastated by typhoon "Sendong."
Valte confirmed the presidential visit, although she still had no idea when this would be.
"It will be forthcoming. We just cannot tell you about the schedule but the President wants to make sure that the national agencies that are coordinating with the agencies on the ground have a concerted plan and concerted actions in place," Valte added.
Already, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said they have sent or airlifted via C-130 military plane potable water to Cagayan de Oro yesterday, adding that Maynilad Water Inc. has offered 1,500 pieces of 500-milliliter water bottles to the area as well.
The Philippine Red Cross, for its part, has offered its water bladders.
Valte reassured the victims that help is on the way, and that the national government has deployed search and rescue teams to the affected areas, where the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police are also coordinating with local government units for relief operations.
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