THREE weather systems are affecting the country, which is preparing for Christmas Day on Monday next week, the state weather agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
In its 24-hour weather forecast, a trough of a low pressure area continues to affect the eastern section of Mindanao, bringing scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms in that part of the country while the tail-end of a cold front is affecting the eastern section of northern and central Luzon.
In a related development, families affected by Tropical Depression “Urduja” have now hit the 281,902 mark, equivalent to 1,090,725 persons, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said in its Wednesday update.
The affected families are from 1,706 barangays from Mimaropa and Regions V, VI, VII, and VIII and Caraga, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said.
Of the figure, 11,715 families or 53,497 persons are still being served inside 235 evacuation centers while another 43,314 families or 171,411 individuals are being served outside.
Jalad said 64 persons were reported injured in Samar and Leyte while two missing in San Fernando, Romblon.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways is preparing the program of works and reconstruction plans for the damaged roads and bridges in Leyte due “Urduja” but the agency is confronted where to source the P600 million for the repair and restoration projects.
A public works official who requested anonymity admitted the department had only P200 million remaining emergency fund for the quick restoration and reinstatement of roads and structures affected by calamities for 2017.
The DPWH said the estimated damage to national roads, bridges under DPWH was placed at P569.72 million which covers P541.7 million in Region 8; P26.5 million in Region 4-B; P1 million in Region 5; and P520,00.00 in Region 11.
In a press statement, the DPWH said roads in Mimaropa Region and seven road sections in Region 8 remain impassable after “Urduja” triggered landslide, damaged roads and bridges and spillway.
The DPWH is still clearing the affected section of the Sibuyan Circumferential Road in the province of Romblon which was closed due to washed-out Tinimbawan Bridge Detou, it said.
In Biliran, still closed to traffic due to landslide is the Naval-Caibiran Cross Country Road and Biliran-Naval Circumferential Road due to four damaged bridges namely: Catmon, Caray-caray, Santol and Busali Bridges.
The DPWH advised travelers from Tacloban to take the Biliran-Cabucgayan-Caibiran-Culaba-Kawayan-Almeria-Naval Route in going to Naval and vice versa.
In Leyte, four road sections are still impassable which include Bagahupi-Babatngon-Sta. Cruz-Barugo-Carigara Road due to landslide; Jaro-Dagami-Burauen-Lapaz due to damaged spillway; Libungao-Matag-ob-Palompon Road and Kananga-Tungonan Hot Spring Road due to damaged pavement caused by flooding and landslide.
Nineteen incidents of landslides were reported along with 14 flooding and one capsized vessel in Mimaropa, Regions V, VI, and VIII.
Jalad said 50 incidents of power outage were reported in 50 cities and towns in Calabarzon, Regions V, VII, VIII and Caraga.
Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Rizal and Northern Quezon, including Polillo Island will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms caused by the tail-end of a cold front.
Caraga and Davao region are affected by cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorm due to trough of LPA, while Ilocos region will have cloudy skies due to the northeast monsoon.
Meanwhille, “Urduja” is now at 540 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan with maximum winds of 65 km/h and gusts of up to 80 km/h.