HEAVY RAINS PARALYZE LUZON, METRO MANILA / LIST:
IMPASSABLE ROADS
[PHOTO -A man crosses deep floodwaters using water containers as
floaters in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday Aug.
7, 2012. Torrential rains pounding the Philippine capital on Tuesday paralyzed
traffic as waist-deep floods triggered evacuations of tens of thousands of
residents and the government suspended work in offices and schools. AP/Aaron Favila]
MANILA, AUGUST 8, 2012 (INQUIRER) By Tonette Orejas Associated Press -
Torrential rains pounding the Philippine capital on Tuesday paralyzed traffic as
waist-deep floods triggered evacuations of tens of thousands of residents and
the government suspended work in offices and schools.
Malacanang immediately announced the suspension of classes and work in
government offices in Metro Manila and nine provinces due to non-stop rains.
"Upon the recommendation of Pagasa and in view of the continuing inclement
weather brought about by the southwest monsoon [Habagat], work in government
offices and classes in college level in NCR [National Capital Region], provinces
of Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and
Rizal are hereby suspended today, 07August 2012," the Palace said in its
Memorandum Circular No. 33 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
The same directive, however, said that agencies "whose functions involve the
delivery of basic and health services, preparedness/response to disasters and
calamities, and/or the performance of vital public services shall continue with
their operations and render the necessary services".
Incessant downpours set off by the seasonal monsoon overflowed major dams and
rivers in Manila and nine surrounding provinces and put authorities on alert.
The death toll from last week's Typhoon Saola, which battered Manila and the
northern Philippines for several days, has climbed steadily to 51.
The head of the government's rescue agency, Benito Ramos, said there were no
immediate reports of new casualties early Tuesday after the rains pounded
already saturated Manila for more than 24 hours.
Vehicles and even heavy trucks struggled to navigate water-clogged roads,
where hundreds of thousands of commuters were stranded overnight. Many cars were
stuck in the muddy waters.
The La Mesa dam, which supplies water to the capital of 12 million people,
spilled excess water for a second time early Tuesday into the rivers flowing
into Quezon city, a middle-class Manila suburb, as well as the neighborhoods of
Malabon, Valenzuela and Caloocan, where several villages were submerged.
Along the swollen Marikina River, police were deployed to move more than
5,000 residents away from the riverbanks in what Vice Mayor Jose Cadiz said was
an enforced evacuation. The operation started after the City Hall sounded the
alarm bell.
The Philippine Stock Exchange in the financial district of Makati, which was
also flooded, was closed Tuesday. Also closed was the U.S. Embassy along Manila
Bay in the historic old city, which was drenched out last week when a storm
surge pushed the water over the seawall.
"The embassy is closed today due to excessive flooding in the streets and
concern for the safety of our employees and consular applicants," Ambassador
Harry Thomas Jr. said in an announcement.
The military, which is involved in rescue work, canceled several events due
to the flooding, including an awarding of bounties to tipsters who helped troops
capture al-Qaida-linked militants.
In 2009, massive flooding spawned by a typhoon devastated Manila and the
surrounding areas and killed hundreds of residents in rampaging flash floods.
The state weather bureau said the current flooding was not as severe but warned
of more rainy days ahead.
Typhoon Saola was the seventh of 20 typhoons and storms expected to batter
the Philippines this year.
MMDA lists impassable roads By Karen Boncocan
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on
Tuesday has declared several roads impassable due to flooding.
Also, Makati and Las Pinas lifted the number coding ban that will allow
vehicles with plate numbers ending in 3 and 4 to travel in their cities,
according to the MMDA. Below is a list of impassable roads as of posting time:
* E. Muñoz-Pami – waist deep, not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Reina Reigente/Abad Santos/Recto – tire deep, not passable to all types of
vehicles;
* E.Rodriguez – not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Kalentong – waist deep, not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Tulyahan McArthur – knee deep, not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Pio Valenzuela – not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Commonwealth Capitol Zuzuaregi – waist deep, not passable to all types of
vehicles;
* San Juan/F.Manalo – waist deep, not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Liano road Caloocan – chest deep, not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Rizal Avenue/R.Papa – not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Old Sta.Mesa/V.Mapa intersection – waist deep, not passable to all types of
vehicles;
* Verm before Caltex – neck deep not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Quezon Blvd. Carlos Palanca/Mendiola – not passable to all types of
vehicles;
* Roxas NB infront San Juan de dios – knee deep, not passable to all types of
vehicles;
* Ramon Magsaysay Blvd. – waist deep, not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Quezon Ave Roosevelt – Congressional Road San Mateo Bataan – not passable;
* Zapote Alabang Road waist deep flood, not passable;
* Roxas NB infront of San Juan de dios – knee deep;
* Ssouthbound and northbound of NLEX Balintawak, not passable to all types of
vehicles;
* Biak na Bato – not passable;
* Quezon Avenue, Sto. Domingo – knee deep;
* Eagle St. GSIS Village Quezon City – waist deep;
* C5 NB Ateneo – knee deep;
* E. Rodriguez Waltermart, not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Masaya St. Commonwealth Philcoa – not passable;
* C4 Lascano – waist deep;
* Victory St. G.Araneta – chest deep;
* SM Sucat, Parañaque – waist deep;
* Mandaluyong Maysilo – Knee deep;
* Quezon Ave Maria Clara – not passable;
* Teneros Malabon, as of 7:00 am, neck deep;
* Quirino Sauyo – not passable to types of vehicles;
* NLEX Balintawak – not passable to all types of vehicles;
* South Super Highway Buendia Dela Rosa – not passable to light vehicles;
* BBB McArthur – not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Q.Ave Barangay Tatalon Kaliraya – not passable to all types of vehicles;
* Q.Ave Delta – not passable;
* Q.Ave Araneta – not passable;
* Quezon Ave Scout Schuatoco – not passable;
* Quezon Ave Centris EDSA NB – not passable;
* San Marcelino Taft Ayala, Manila – not Passable;
* Burgos Finance, Manila in-front of Manila City Hall – not passable;
* RMB – not passable;
* C5 Libis bypass Rd – not passable.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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