By Martin Sadongdong
At least two road sections in Ifugao and Upper Kalinga provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were closed to public after heavy rains brought about by tropical storm Falcon and enhanced by the southwest monsoon (Habagat) caused soil erosion, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Wednesday.
National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MANILA BULLETIN)
NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said a portion of the Matteled Road at Barangay Dupligan, Tanudan, Ifugao; and Lakilak Road at Barangay Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga were closed due to soil erosion.
The Matteled road was closed around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and clearing operations at the road section were put on-hold due to continuous rains, Jalad said.
Meanwhile, only one lane was passable at the Lakilak road after the soil erosion.
Clearing operations at the road section were on-going but only a portion of the road was open to the public due to an unstable backslope.
Tropical storm Falcon made landfall in Gattaran, Cagayan around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, said an NDRRMC situation report citing the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
READ MORE: TS ‘Falcon’ makes landfall, brings more rains
The center of tropical storm Falcon was estimated to be in the coastal waters of Aparri, Cagayan as of 4 a.m. and moving west northwest at 35 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of up to 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) Number 2 was raised over the northern portion of Apayao, Batanes, and northern portion of Cagayan including the Babuyan Group of Islands.
Meanwhile, TCWS Number 1 was raised over Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, Isabela, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portions of Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.
Flooded areas
Jalad, in the situation report, also said that five villages were reported flooded in the Bicol Region (5) due to persistent rains.
Ankle- to waist-deep floods were recorded in Barangays Sagarada Familia, Bulusan, Linao, Buga and San Isidro, all in the municipality of Libon in Albay.
Power interruption
A power interruption was also experienced in Barangays Koreo, Bangaan, Sigayan, Bauyan and Sugod in the municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte (Region 10) on Tuesday, Jalad noted.