Deadly Philippines Superstorm

Deadly Philippines superstorm triggers mudslides and flooding, killing scores

A rare storm has hit the Philippines' second-largest island of Mindanao, with more than 180 reported dead. Deforestation exacerbated the ferocity of the flash floods and mudslides.

Tropical Storm Tembin has claimed more than 180 lives across the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, police said early Sunday, as rescuers continue to search for more bodies. 

Scores of people are reported to be still missing.

The storm hit the Philippines' second-largest island on Friday, triggering flash floods and mudslides. While the Philippines is typically battered by an average of 20 major storms per year, they rarely hit Mindanao, which is home to 20 million people.

Rescuers recovered 36 bodies from the Salog River in Mindanao, and officials said another 28 deaths were reported on the impoverished peninsula of Zamboanga.

The storm is the second to hit the Philippines in a week

Deforestation problem

Mayor Bong Edding of the town of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte province said more than 30 people were swept away by flash floods in the fishing village of Anungan but that five bodies had been recovered.

"The floodwaters from the mountain came down so fast and swept away people and houses," Edding said. "It's really sad because Christmas is just a few days away, but these things happen beyond our control."

Edding blamed years of deforestation in the mountains for the tragedy, adding that he and other officials would move to end the logging operations.

Police said another 81 were missing after mud- and rockslides swept through coastal communities in Sibuco and other nearby fishing villages.

Read more: Philippine ferry capsizes with 251 onboard

Ignored warnings

Disaster officials said many residents failed to heed evacuation warnings along coastal areas and riverbanks.

"Many people were swept to the sea as flood waters quickly rose due to the high tide," Manuel Luis Ochotorena, a disaster agency official, said. "They never heeded the warnings. They thought it was a weak storm but it dumped more rains."

Tembin is the second tropical storm to lash the Philippines within a week. Several days ago Tropical Storm Kai-Tak barreled through the central Philippines, killing at least 54, with 24 still missing.

Emergency workers, soldiers, police and volunteers were being organized to look for survivors, clear debris and restore power and communications. But the lack of electricity and communications has hampered rescue efforts, said Ryan Cabus, a local official.

Cagayan de Oro city was one place hard-hit by flooding

Aid distribution

The weather bureau reports that the storm had strengthened over the Sulu Sea and was packing sustained winds of up 80 kph (50 mph) while moving west at 20 kph.

It was heading out towards sea on Saturday and is expected to be clear of the Philippines by Monday, according to the service.

Food packs and other forms of aid were being distributed throughout storm-hit communities, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr.

"It is unfortunate that another tropical cyclone, Vinta, made its presence felt so near Christmas," Roque said, using the local name for the storm.

One of the worst typhoons to ever hit the Philippines was Haiyan, in 2013. It was one of the most powerful storms to make landfall, and it killed nearly 8,000 people and left 200,000 families homeless.

bik/tj (AFP, Reuters, AP, dpa)

Paralyzed ERC warns of massive blackouts

By Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star) | Updated December 23, 2017 - 12:00am

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In the absence of a quorum as all its commissioners are temporarily out of work, the ERC would not be able to perform important judicial and quasi-legislative functions such as setting schedules for hearings, addressing consumer concerns and cases of violations by industry players of existing laws, issuing certificates of compliance or provisional authorities to operate power plants, and awarding of procurement contracts, among others. File

MANILA, Philippines — The year-long suspension of all four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will lead to “severe paralysis” of the entire power industry, possibly leaving many areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces without electricity for long periods.

Newly appointed ERC chair and chief executive officer Agnes Devanadera raised the scenario in reaction to the suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman of commissioners Alfredo Non, Gloria Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia Magpale-Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana.

Malacañang, specifically the Office of the Executive Secretary, is considering dismissing the four officials and appointing their replacements to stave off disruption in ERC operations, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

Devanadera yesterday said there are P1.59 billion worth of power service applications awaiting immediate attention. She said the cases against the suspended officials would affect the capital expenditures of firms involved in possible irregularities, including the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

“The brownouts and the blackouts, if we will not be able to act on the pending petitions, may not happen just in the provinces but also in Metro Manila. We also have safety issues we have to address. These capex consist usually of funds they need and must have the approval of ERC to continue their rehabilitation. We are so typhoon-prone. We cannot be holding action on this,” Devanadera pointed out.

“The debilitating impact of the ombudsman’s decision to suspend the four incumbent ERC commissioners will render the operations of the agency in severe paralysis,” she added.

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“As a collegial body, the presence of at least three members of the commission is needed to constitute a quorum to enable the ERC to adopt any ruling, order, resolution, decision or other acts of the Commission in the exercise of its quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative functions,” she added.

The ERC is now seeking guidance from President Duterte – being the appointing authority – in the implementation of the ombudsman’s suspension order.

Citing the ombudsman’s office order No. 409, she said any decision on administrative cases should be implemented by the concerned government agencies.

In her statement, Devanadera stressed she was not recommending the withdrawal of the suspension order but was merely stating its impact on the ERC and on the whole power industry in general.

She said the agency has embarked on a zero backlog program, citing numerous applications still pending since 2009.

In the absence of a quorum as all its commissioners are temporarily out of work, the ERC would not be able to perform important judicial and quasi-legislative functions such as setting schedules for hearings, addressing consumer concerns and cases of violations by industry players of existing laws, issuing certificates of compliance or provisional authorities to operate power plants, and awarding of procurement contracts, among others.

There are also 135 power supply agreement applications worth P1.2 trillion awaiting action, including the seven PSA filings of Meralco.

Meanwhile, the accrued interest of the Feed-in Tariff Allowance (FIT-All) fund has already ballooned to P526.7 million.

“The longer we do not act on this, the more consumers will suffer. It does not mean, however, that whatever is stated in the application will be granted in toto. We usually do a haircut on applications after evaluation,” Devanadera said.

The ERC chief said the situation – if left to deteriorate – could place the government’s Build, Build, Build program in peril since major infrastructure projects require massive power supply.

“There is definitely an impact, especially we’re talking of trillions of pesos that will be put into the mainstream economy,” Devanadera said.

The Duterte administration is embarking on a three-year rolling infrastructure program amounting to P3.6 trillion from 2018 to 2020. Officials dubbed it the country’s “golden age” of infrastructure.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has set a new target of 43,765 megawatts (MW) of additional power capacity by 2040 in accordance with its long-term vision dubbed Ambisyon Natin 2040.

Until 2040, the country would need 25,265 MW of baseload power which could be sourced from coal, geothermal natural gas, nuclear, biomass and hydropower; 14,500 MW of mid-merit power from power sources such as natural gas; and 4,000 MW peaking power from diesel oil, wind and solar resources.

The DOE has been inviting foreign investors to invest in the Philippine power sector as the administration’s massive infrastructure program would require a huge amount of energy supply.

In an interview, Roque said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea is examining the bases for the suspension of the four commissioners to determine if such bases could be used to justify their eventual dismissal.

Roque emphasized that Malacañang has the power to suspend or remove appointees. He maintained that the executive could not just let the four ERC commissioners serve their suspension as such would affect the functions of the commission.

He assured the public as well as industry players of uninterrupted work at the ERC, saying its chairman and CEO is not among those suspended. – Christina Mendez

Encore ... TenoRRific: Abdul Candao

Davao born tenor Abdul won first prize in 1982 at the "National Music Competition for young artists" in Manila while he was a member of the Philippine Saring-Himig under his first voice teacher, Mr. George Hernandez. During this time, he was also part of the Kayumangging Kaligatan, a seven-member vocal ensemble under the late artist Professor Ernani Cuenco.

Later, be came a student and personal scholar of Professor Irma Potenciano at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. Abdul earned his Diploma from the Opera Class of the "Vienna Conservatory of Music" in 1995 under KS Waldemar Kmentt and has studied with KS Walter Berry and Maestro Yahan Mirkain.

His first job after graduation was "Baron Hueber" in the Austrian musical "Elisabeth" at the Theater an der Wien. Since then, he sung opera, operetta, and concerts in Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the US.

He sang the solo tenor part in Reichhardt's "Te Deum" at the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna; the male solo from the oratorio "Eversmiling Liberty" at the Mozartsaal of the Wiener Konzerthaus; "Land des Lächelns" at the Brucknerhaus in Linz,Austria; and sang regularly for the "Salute of Vienna" - New Year's concerts in Canada.

Some of Abdul's representative roles include: Cavaradossi, Chareauneuf, Faust,Ferando, the Governor in "Candide", "Graf von Luxenburg", Max the Prince in "Rusalka", Radames, and "Der Zarewitsch". Abdul has created two leading roles in the operas "Jush-Tush" and "Arrest" in Vienna.

In 2008 followed the "Cavaradossi" at the Teatro Castro Alves in Salvador, Brazil. In 2009, he has appeared at the Burgtheater in Vienna, the Staatsoper in Munich as well as the Muziktheater in Amsterdam in Chrisoph Schlingensief's "Mea Culpa".

In 2010 he sang the "Barber of Seville" in Salzburg, Austria. In 2011 he sang at the Osterkiang Festival of the Theater an der Wien in Bernstein's "Mass". In January 2012, he sang Prince Sou Chong" at the Grosses Festspielhaus in Salzburg, Austria. That same year, he sang "Don Jose" in the latest production of "Carmen" in Manila directed bu Laurice Guillen.

Last night's concert in Davao City included compositions by G. Meyerbeer, G. Verdi, F. Cilea, J. Lacalle, Franz Lehar and A. Lara as well as Wright's "Stranger in Paradise" (Kismet), Newley's "What kind of fool am I" ("Stop the World" and Silos' "Lagi sa isang bulaklak" and "Dahil sa isang bulaklak" and Cuenco's "Bato sa buhangin", "Balikbayan", and "Gaano ko ikaw kamahal".

Finale: "O Holy Night" ...

Tenorrific ....

'Vinta" moves over Davao Region

Signal No.2 in 17 areas as 'Vinta' moves over Davao Region

 (philstar.com) | Updated December 22, 2017 - 7:30am

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Sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of areas under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal, Pagasa said. Aldo Nelbert Banaynal, file

MANILA, Philippines — Storm Warning Signal No. 2 was up in 17 areas in the Visayas and Mindanao on Friday morning as Severe Tropical Storm Vinta moved west over Compostela Valley.

 

As of 7 a.m., Vinta was in the vicinity of Laak, a farming town in Compostela Valley and was moving west at 20 kilometers per hour, Pagasa said.

 

Vinta has maximum sustained winds of 90 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph, Pagasa said in an earlier Severe Weather Bulletin.

 

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PAGASA-DOST

✔@dost_pagasa

At 4:00 AM today, the center of Severe Tropical Storm #VintaPHwas estimated based on all available data including Hinatuan Doppler Radar at In the vicinity of Boston, Davao Oriental (07.9 °N, 126.3 °E)

4:59 AM - Dec 22, 2017

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Cyclones with sustained winds of 89–117 kph are classified as severe tropical storms.

 

Vinta is expected to be 145 km west southwest of Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norter by Saturday morning.

 

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 2 is up in the following areas:

 

Visayas

 

Siquijor

Southern Negros Oriental

 

Mindanao

 

Surigao del Norte including Siargao Islands

Surigao del Sur

Agusan del Norte

Agusan del Sur

Northern Davao Oriental

Compostela Valley

Davao del Norte

Camiguin

Bukidnon

Misamis Oriental

Lanao del Norte

Lanao del Sur

Misamis Occidental

Eastern Zamboanga del Norte

Eastern Zamboanga del Sur  

 

TWCS No. 1 has been raised over the following areas:

 

Visayas

 

Southern Leyte

Southern portion of Leyte

Bohol

Southern Cebu

Rest of Negros Oriental

Southern Negros Occidental

Mindanao

Dinagat Island

Rest of Davao Oriental

Davao del Sur

North Cotabato

Maguindanao

Rest of Zamboanga del Norte

Rest of Zamboanga del Sur

Zamboanga Sibugay

Tropical Storm Vinta

Comval Gov. Tyron Uy presides the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting on December 21 at the capitol. Part of the important discussion is the weather update and local preparation of the LDRRMOs as the province is under PSWS #1 for Tropical Storm Vinta. (mary
el lasaca/ID Comval)

How you can help communities affected by 'Urduja'

By Patricia Lourdes Viray (philstar.com)  11:10am

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In this Dec. 17, 2017 photo provided by Philippine National Police Region 8, rescuers and police try to clear an area from boulders after Tropical Storm Kai-Tak hit the island province of Biliran, central Philippines. A slow-moving storm has left dozens of people dead and several others missing mostly due to landslides and floods and stranded thousands of holiday travelers in the central Philippines, officials said. Philippine National Police Region 8 via AP

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical storm Urduja (international name Kai-Tak) devastated Eastern Visayas when it struck the region last weekend, triggering landslides and killing at least 40 persons.

Casualties were reported in Biliran, Eastern and Samar. The province of Biliran and local governments of Kananga, Tanauan, Carigara, Ormoc and Tacloban in Leyte have been placed under a state of calamity. That gives them access to emergency funds for disaster relief and puts price freezes on basic goods.

Biliran Gov. Gerardo Espina said that communities in the province are running out of fuel and water as the storm damaged many vital bridges, preventing delivery of supplies.

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The Philippine Navy is set to utilize its newest and largest ships to deliver relief goods and basic services, as well as carry out humanitarian assistance and response operations in affected families and communities.

READ: Death toll due to Urduja soars to 40

Those who would like to help families affected by the typhoon may donate through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

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Dollar Savings Account
Account Name: DSWD FOREIGN DONATION
Account Number: 3124-0055-81
Swift Code: TLBPPHMMXXX
Bank Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Peso Savings Account
Account Name: DSWD DONATION FUND
Account Number: 3122-1011-84
Bank Address: Land Bank of the Philippines, Batasan Branch, Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Some netizens have also started initiatives to help families and communities affected by the typhoon.

Mon Corpuz@moncorpuz

Biliran needs our help. Share a Noche Buena pack to a family this Christmas for P600/ basket #TabangBiliran Pledges thru @Sinagtala @PencilTreks or DM for bank details.  credits to @PhilstarNews @JadePardilla

11:08 PM - Dec 18, 2017

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Markjan@mjtonss

Hi everyone!
We are currently looking for donations, such as clothes and food, for the victims of Typhoon Urduja that hit the province of Biliran, which is my hometown. For those who are willing to donate, please feel free to contact me. Thank you and God bless!#BangonBiliran

8:10 PM - Dec 18, 2017

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The DSWD is currently conducting relief operations to respond to the needs of those who were affected by Urduja. Teams will be deployed to different provinces including Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Samar and Northern Samar.