MANILA, Philippines – Southern Luzon was not spared from the heavy rains brought about by Topical Storm Mario (international name: Fung-Wong) on Friday, September 19.
As of posting, rains continued to batter provinces in the regions of Calabarzon and Mimaropa, causing trip cancellations and high floodwaters, stranding families and passengers.
In Rizal, one of the provinces on alert level 3, water is above head. About 20 families from North Libis, Barangay Banaba, are waiting for help from the San Mateo municipal government to be rescued, according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
The Antipolo City covernment and Eastern Rizal Miners Association have also deployed two trucks to transport stranded passengers from SM Masinag to Sta. Lucia East and vice versa, according to Antipolo’s Public Information Office.
The same agency said various roads are impassable to all vehicles, including Marcos Highway, VV Soliven, Sumulong Highway Extension, and Ortigas Avenue Extension. Passable roads include the Floodway, Angono-Taytay Coastal Road (Baytown) and Taytay Highway 2000.
Cancelled trips
Hundreds of passengers are also stranded due to canceled trips. As of 11am, the Philippine Coast Guard reported 440 passengers are stranded in Batangas port, as well as 140 rolling cargos and 4 vessels. The port has suspended travel to Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro and to Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro.
In Occidental Mindoro, Ticol Bridge in Pitogo Creek is reportedly close to breaking point, according to the PIA, because of the huge waves from the Busuanga River due to the heavy rainfall. Barangays Pitogo, Aguas and Rizal will be affected if Ticol Bridge breaks.
Areas in Batangas are also under constant monitoring, specifically those around Poblacion.
According to Bauan administrator and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management officer Antonio de Lacy Jr, light vehicles can no longer pass barangays Bolo, San Roque, and San Miguel.
It is not only in Batangas port that passengers are stranded.
In Quezon, travel from Dalahican, Lucena City, heading toward Balanacan, Marinduque, were suspended due to Mario. Hundreds of passengers are reportedly stranded at Dalahican port, according to the PIA.
Laguna was not spared of Mario’s effects either. The City of Calamba, specifically areas serviced by Meralco, are reporting power interruption or brownout.
Source and courtesy: Natashya Gutierrez, Rappler