2 storms' damage now at P8.4-B

MANILA - Sixteen people were killed while thousands more lost their homes in the northern part of Luzon in the wake of tropical storm "Pepeng" (international codename Parma), the National Disaster Coordinating Council said Tuesday.

In its 6 a.m, report, the NDCC listed a total of 30 casualties from the tropical storm including 16 killed, 12 injured and two missing. Twelve of the fatalities were killed in separate lanslide incidents in Itogon and La Trinidad in Benguet. There were two unidentified bodies recovered in Calasiao, Pangasinan and Mayorao, Ifugao while a certain Arcel Magpayo was killed by a falling tree while evacuating in Quezon.

The NDCC said it has recorded a total of 3,393 damaged homes in Northern Luzon. Total damage to infrastructure and agriculture from Pepeng and tropical storm Ondoy (international codename Ketsana) has reached P8.4 billion.

Damage to farms by Ondoy is nearing P6 billion; and to infrastructure, P2.74 billion, including 408 schools across the country. The Department of Public Works and Highways said Pepeng's damage to roads and bridges has risen to P604.71 million.

As of 4 a.m, tropical storm Pepeng has remained almost stationary over the Luzon Sea some 170 km north northwest of Laoag.

The storm, which is packing 105 kph winds near the center, is expected to remain stationary for the next two days.

Storm Signal No. 3 remains in effect over Ilocos Norte while Storm Signal No. 2 is in effect in Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Northern Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands and Batanes Group of Islands.

Storm Signal No. 1 is in effect over La Union, Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga and the rest of Cagayan.

Meanwhile, typhoon Quedan (international codename Melor) was located 930 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes.

The NDCC said it is monitoring the possible collapse of a dike in Sison, Pangasinan after the water level in Bued River rose above normal. Sison Mayor Kimi Cojuangco said the destruction of the dike would mean flooding in Sison and adjacent municipalities.

Likewise, a dike in Barangay Santa Maria East in San Nicolas, Pangasinan is also in danger of totally collapsing due to flooding in the Calabasian River.

The NDCC recorded a  total of nine landslides in the aftermath of Pepeng. A total of 24 roads and bridges remain impassable as of Tuesday morning due to fallen trees and electric posts, landslides, floods and washed out embankments.

The western part of the Mountain Province, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra and Ifugao, Tuguegarao and the northern portion of Cagayan province has remained without power since Sunday. Power failure was also reported in Luna and Santo Tomas, La Union; parts of Ilocos Norte and the municipalities of Santa Catalina, Santo Domingo, Magsingal, San Juan, Cabugao and Sinait since Sunday evening.

New urban planning model

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro earlier said he will recommend the commissioning of a new urban planning study that would identify disaster-prone areas in Metro Manila. "This is something we need to resolve, whether areas remain safe and if not, what are the alternatives," he said.

He said, however, that experts must re-examine the 1977 Metro Manila Transport, Land Use and Development Planning Project (Metroplan) which identified the Marikina Valley and other parts of Metro Manila as unsuitable for development.

"Green" architect and urban planner Felino Palafox Jr. earlier said government agencies and private developers are jointly liable for the massive loss of life and property in several Metro Manila cities during tropical storm Ondoy for practicing poor urban planning and allowing commercial and residential structures to be built in flood-prone areas.

He said the Metroplan identified Marikina Valley, the western shores of Laguna de Bay, and the Manila Bay coastal area as among development areas that should prepare for flooding, earthquakes and possible changes in topography. He said  the Metroplan included the construction of the Manggahan Floodway, which would divert floodwaters from reaching Metro Manila by diverting the water to the Laguna Lake.

"There was supposed to be a Parañaque spillway to flush out the excess water to the Laguna Bay and South China Sea, but this was never done. It was part of the recommendation," he said.

He said that to address the problem of flooding, the government should consider "vertical urbanism" and build more high-rises instead of "horizontal urbanism."