'Gener' kills 12; Metro Manila classes suspended anew

MANILA (3rd Update, 1:24 p.m.) -- Classes in Metro Manila and other provinces were suspended anew on Monday due to rains spawned by Typhoon Gener (international codename: Saola), which left 12 people dead.

Heavy rains brought by southwest monsoon have caused flooding in the cities of Manila, Pasay, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Marikina and Quezon.

As of late Monday morning, the following schools suspended classes:

• University of the Philippines – Manila
• Adamson University
• De La Salle University
• St. Scholastica's College
• OB Montessori Center
• Saint Mary's Angels College of Valenzuela
• St. Jude College, all levels
• University of the East
• Ateneo de Manila University
• Miriam College
• St. Mark International Academy
• Navotas Polytechnic College
• De La Salle - College of St. Benilde
• Headway School for Giftedness
• University of Santo Tomas
• Saint Joseph Academy of Valenzuela
• Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
• Unibersidad de Manila
• College of St. Catherine QC, preschool to college
• Miriam's Academy of Valenzuela
• St. Amatiel Technological Institute
• National College of Science and Technology
• Jesus Our Life Christian Academy
• Nuestra Señora de Guia Academy
• La Purisima Concepcion Academy of Malabon
• St. Paul University Manila
• San Sebastian College Recoletos
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• Great Redeemer Accelerated Christian Education College
• Saint Francis Academy
• Faith Hope Academy
• Jeremiah Christian Academy
• Little Lazaret Christian Academy
• St. Catherine of Sienna Academy of Novaliches
• Wesleyan College of Manila
• Saint Joseph School of Fairview
• Great Redeemer Accelerated Christian Education College

Aside from the National Capital Region, classes were also suspended in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Rizal, La Union and Zambales.

MANILA. People wade through ankle deep water in Quiapo, Manila, on Wednesday morning after heavy rains spawned by southwest monsoon caused flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The inclement weather prompted school officials Wednesday to suspend classes anew. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)

On Monday, classes have been suspended in similar areas as strong winds and pounding rains hit Metro Manila and parts of Central Luzon, leaving 12 people dead.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified the latest victims as Prisca Pacyaya, 64, and Clinton Idio, 15, both from Benguet and died due to landslide.

The other two victims from Romblon -- Mariel Manzo, 11, was accidentally knocked by fallen branches of tree causing serious head injury, and Edna Ibanes, who was hit by an uprooted coconut tree due to strong winds.

The eight other fatalities were identified as Ieyan Hayo, 28, of Barangay Ipan, Mariveles, Bataan; Ronald Necor, 33, of Barangay Pangalcagan, Bugasong, Antique; Merly Datinguinoo, 45, of Barangay Gamao, Tingloy, Batangas; Renante Cimafranca Jauculan Jr., 10, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte; Bernald Buzon, 35, Tanza, Rizal; Danieles Hipolito, 32-35, Bacoor, Cavite; Teodoro Flores, 40, San Pablo, Laguna; and Ernest Flores of San Benito, Alaminos, Laguna.

The NDRRMC also reported two missing persons identified as Edgardo Barrey, 42, and Jeric Barrey, 17, both of Barangay Apatot, San Esteban in Ilocos Sur. They were reportedly carried away by strong current while fishing.

The NDRRMC said Tyhoon Gener affected 63,670 families or 303,941 people in 413 barangays (villages) in 75 municipalities and 18 cities in 25 provinces of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, Cordillera Administrative Region, and National Capital Region (NCR).

Of these, 31,135 families or 154,211 people are being assisted inside and outside evacuation centers.

At least 1,000 houses were damaged, while 658 were destroyed. Some roads and bridges in Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, Isabela, Aklan, Camiguin, Benguet, Mountain Province, Apayao, Ifugao and parts of NCR including Malabon and Valenzuela cities were closed to traffic as of Tuesday due to floods.

The total cost of damage to agriculture is P2.1 million in Cagayan province, Rizal province (Calabarzon) and Iloilo province.

Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas are still alerted for possible flash floods and landslides.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) located the eye of Typhoon Gener based on satellite and surface data at 285 kilometers (km) northeast of Basco, Batanes. It packed maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, while it is forecast to move north at seven kph.

The weather bureau has placed Batanes and Babuyan groups of Islands and Calayan under public storm signal number 2. These areas are alerted against moderate damage to agriculture, uprooting of few large trees, un-roofing of large number of nipa and cogon houses, and risky travel by all types of sea vessels.

Winds of 61 to 100 kph are expected in these areas in at least 24 hours.

The rest of Cagayan and Apayao are placed under storm signal number 1. Residents in these areas are warned against twigs and branches of trees that may fall due to strong winds, un-roofing of some nipa and cogon houses, and dangerous sea travel of small sea crafts and fishing boats.

Winds of 30 to 60 kph are expected in these areas within the next 36 hours.

Although "Gener" has slightly weakened, Pagasa said a new low pressure area (LPA) was spotted in Laoag City and has a chance to become a cyclone.

Weather forecaster Bernie De Leon said once the LPA intensifies into cyclone, it will be locally named "Hele," the eighth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year.

De Leon said the LPA sighted off 270 km northwest of Laoag City is expected to bring rains over parts of Northern Luzon.

He said the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Gener formed the LPA.

In the meantime, Pagasa said "Gener" is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains and moderate to strong winds over Luzon and Visayas, especially the western section.

Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboard of Luzon and Visayas due to the combined effects of Typhoon Gener and the southwest monsoon.

"Gener" is expected to be at 405 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes, by Thursday morning, and outside the Philippine territory by Friday morning. (Sunnex/With PNA)