Ulysses storms Southern Tagalog

Strong winds, heavy rains, and flash floods brought upon by Typhoon Ulysses greeted the Southern Tagalog region as early as yesterday, November 11. This came after two previous storms, Quinta and Rolly, made their way through the country only less than a few weeks apart, leaving several homes destroyed and families displaced. 

Ulysses made its landfall twice last night, with the first being in Patnanungan at around 10:30 PM, and the second in Burdeos at around 11:20 PM. However, at around 1:40 AM today, it made its third landfall in General Nakar, also in Quezon.

With a strength of 150 km/h and a speed of 15 km/h going northwest, the storm struck Region III, IV-A, and the National Capital Region (NCR).

As of writing, several areas have been flooded, with many taking to social media to ask for aid or rescue. These reports frequently originated from Marikina City and the Province of Rizal.

Among those who have pleaded for rescue was netizen Dennis Calavaton, who called for rescuers to come pick him and his family up immediately so that they can lay their recently deceased grandmother to rest.

Meanwhile, a netizen from Rodriguez, Rizal expressed hopelessness for rescue, as she showed pictures of their neighborhood flooded and partly submerged in muddy water and junk.

Sectors and Peoples Totally Opposed to Kaliwa Dam (STOP Kaliwa Dam) reported that the areas of General Nakar and Infana, both in Quezon, as well as Brgy Daitan, Tanay, Rizal suffered from Ulysses’ floods.

However, as they have cited the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA), the Sierra Madre and Zambales mountain ranges were able to weaken the effects of the typhoon, due to their “frictional effects.”

“Dahil sa malawak nitong sukat at maraming libis at kurba, napapahina ng Sierra Madre ang mga malalakas na bagyo katulad ng Ulysses kaya naman nagmimistulan itong panangga o natural barrier laban sa mga disaster,” STOP Kaliwa Dam said.

They recalled that previous 2016 Typhoons Karen and Lawin, and 2018’s Ompong were too weakened by the ranges, reiterating the call to cease the construction of the highly controversial Kaliwa Dam, which was reported to ravage the nearby ecosystem and displace the residents there.

“Marami pang bagyo ang lalabanan ng Sierra Madre hanggang ito ay mananatiling malaya sa mga mapaminsalang gawain katulad ng pagkalbo ng gubat para sa paggawa ng dam,” they urged.

Marikina, where the nearby Marikina River reached about a meter beyond the maximum 21.5 meter level, was reported to have had roof-level floods that have submerged about 45,000 homes. A Rappler report quoted Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, who was live in an interview with DZMM, in that air rescue was now needed to rescue trapped families and individuals.

Teodoro described the rise in water to be similar to the one brought upon by the devastating 2009 Typhoon Ondoy.

Due to the large amounts of rainwater, the Laguna de Bay was reported to have exceeded the maximum level of 12.50 meters above sea level (masl.) by 1.56 masl. Caliraya Dam was also reported to have released water due to the storm. 

Other dams reported to have released water include three from Bulacan: Angat (211.30 masl. over the maximum 210-masl), Bostos (18.04 masl. against 17 masl.), and Ipo (101.76 masl. against 101.00 masl.). 

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The Perspective is encouraging its readers to donate to student-led or community efforts to aid those who have been severely affected by the most recent string of typhoons.

To donate monetary goods to the UPLB AGAPAY, an endeavor spearheaded by the Serve the People Brigade UPLB, UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UPLB University Student Council, All UP Academic Employees Union – Los Baños, and UPLB Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, refer to the following details.

LANDBANK                                                BPI
Mariah Joy B. Dela Providencia             Charmane Paguyo Maranan
SA 1896 3525 73                                     0919 2332 49

Click here and here to view two different lists of initiatives to help those affected by the calamities. [P]

Photo from Presidential CommunicatIons / Facebook