Anne, Vice Ganda join forces to help flood victims

MANILA -- Kapamilya star Anne Curtis has joined forces with fellow "It's Showtime" host Vice Ganda to help victims of tropical storm Maring.

In their respective Twitter accounts, the Curtis and Vice Ganda announced that they will hold a garage sale dubbed as "Sale for a Cause" today (August 23) at the PBB hall in Quezon City.

Proceeds of the event will go to flood victims.

"I and @annecurtissmith will be having a garage sale tomorrow at the PBB Hall 10am-6pm. Apparels for all genders are available. #Sale4aCause," Vice Ganda wrote in a Twitter post on Thursday.

"We will be selling personal stuff. Yung iba once or twice lang nasuot. Yung iba di pa nasuot. Yung iba di pa nalabahan. #ViceAnneGarageSale. Shoes, shirts, pants, dresses, gowns at kung anu anu pa. Pinagiisipan ko pa kung ibebenta ko yung ultimate throw back panty ko!," he added.

"I will be joining @vicegandako for a garage sale tomorrow at the PBB Hall 10am-6pm. Apparel for all genders will be available!

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rains, floods bring death, destruction to PH

Torrential rain relentlessly battered the flood-soaked Philippine capital and surrounding farming areas on Tuesday, raising this week's monsoon death toll to 7.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said four more people drowned, bringing the death toll to 7.

The drowning victims were 3-year-old Jeric Sorgello of Mariveles, Bataan; 11-month-old Jian Charles Centeno of Malolos, Bulacan; 1-year-old Justin Viray of Minalin, Pampanga and 64-year-old Renato Roman Lacsamana of Lubao, Pampanga.

The first three fatalities were identified as 30-year-old Franco Pedrito Cawayan, who died in a vehicular accident in Cabugao, Apayao; 39-year-old Celedenonio Gamban, who drowned in Tanza, Cavite; and five-year-old Austin Guarismo Betasolo who was hit by a collapsed concrete fence in Binangonan, Rizal.

The deluge, caused by the combined effects of tropical storm "Maring" and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat), left 11 people wounded and 4 missing.

At least 125,024 families or 601,104 individuals, most of whom came from Central Luzon and Calabarzon, have been affected by strong rains and floods.

Some 64 roads in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Cordillera Administrative Region and National Capital Region (NCR) were still impassable due to floods as of Tuesday morning.

Schools and government offices in Manila and many neighboring regions were closed for a second consecutive day, as floods swelled high into urban as well as rural homes.

The state weather agency warned the rain would continue through Tuesday, issuing its top level red alert for Manila and neighboring provinces.

The red alert means "serious flooding" is likely in low-lying areas, and more than three centimeters (1.8 inches) of rain is expected every hour.

The Southeast Asian archipelago endures about 20 major storms or typhoons annually, generally in the second half of the year and many of them deadly. With Agence France-Presse

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Flights cancelled due to strong rains

Several airlines cancelled flights on Tuesday morning due to strong rains brought by the combined effects of tropical storm "Maring" and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat).

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA)said 52 flights were cancelled this morning.

MIAA General Manager Angel Honrado said all morning flights of Philippine Airlines and PAL Express were cancelled. An assessment was still being conducted about the status of PAL's afternoon flights.

Tiger Air also cancelled all its Manila outbound flights and corresponding flights, waiving the charges and issuing refunds to affected passengers.

As of 11:30 a.m., Cebu Pacific cancelled the following flights:

5J787/788 Manila-Butuan-Manila

5J385/386 Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila

5J857/858 Manila-Zamboanga-Manila

5J339/340 Manila-Kalibo-Manila

5J791/792 Manila-Butuan-Manila

5J965/968 Manila-Davao-Manila

5J506/507 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila

5J373/374 Manila-Roxas-Manila

5J975/966 Manila-Davao-Manila

5J327/328 Manila-Legazpi-Manila

5J659/660 Manila-Tacloban-Manila

5J995/996 Manila-General Santos-Manila

5J901/902 Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J899/900 Manila-Caticlan-Manila

5J523/524 Manila-Naga-Manila

Ramp operations suspended

The MIAA said ramp operations at Terminals 3 and 4 have been "temporarily suspended" until further notice.

Earlier, Honrado said the ramps were flooded.

"Yung rampa natin malalim din ang tubig may kalaliman deep. Too deep for safety purposes kaya naghihintay ang mga airlines sa weather, kung itutuloy," he told dzMM.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Evac set as Marikina River nears Alert level 3

MANILA - Water level at Marikina River is now at 16.9 meters, which is just below the 17-meter level to place the river at Alert Level 3.

Alarm Level 3 means residents must evacuate their homes.

Barangay captain Domingo dela Paz said he has already asked residents to prepare for possible evacuation.

"Sa ngayon hindi naman delikado pa pero maaaring dumating yjung peligroso na maging delikado kaya dapat paghandaan. Isang guhit na lang at kailangang mag forced evacuation," he told ANC.

He said the water level could reach 17 meters in just a few minutes as floods from other areas inundate the Marikina River.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com