MANILA — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has not yet received information on any casualty or injury caused by Tropical Storm Henry.
“(Casualties) wala, wala naman. May mga effect din ng pag-uulan dun sa Region 6, dun sa Negros Occidental but unofficial pa yung report, hindi naman ganun kagrabe (There is no casualty yet. There were also heavy rains in Region 6 [Western Visayas], in Negros Occidental but so far, the report is unofficial. It is not alarming),” NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said when asked whether they have already recorded any casualty as a result of the weather disturbance.
Jalad said he is not expecting too much damage from “Henry”.
“Yung direct effect ng bagyo wala naman kasi mahina lang to, tapos lumabas na. Ang binabantayan natin yung epekto nito sa habagat. Pinalakas niya ang habagat. (The storm has no direct effect because it was weak and is now out of the country. What we are monitoring is its effect on the southwest monsoon, which it has enhanced.) In fact, ang naapektuhan ng malakas na pag-ulan itong (the areas affected by heavy rains are) Mimaropa, Metro Manila, part of Calabarzon and then dito sa (here in the) Zambales, Bataan area,” he added.
While flooding has been reported in these areas, the NDRRMC chief said it is not too severe.
“Zambales, for example, may evacuation dun (There was evacuation in Zambales) in Castillejos, and in San Antonio, a total of 64 families. May (There was) class suspension. Lahat ng munisipyo dun sa (All municipalities of) Zambales, nag-suspend ng klase (suspended classes). Road condition of national highways is passable (except for one) in San Narciso but it’s just flooding of about one foot, so not passable to light vehicles,” he said.
Jalad added that they are closely monitoring the situation at the Marikina River after its water levels began to rise, going past the second alarm, which is 16 meters.
He noted that if rains stop in Metro Manila but continue in upstream Marikina, there would be flooding in the city.
Marikina is just experiencing light rains so it means part of the river might soon subside, he added. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
