Typhoon 'Glenda' heads towards China

MANILA - Financial markets are set to reopen in the Philippines on Thursday as residents clear debris and authorities work to restore power after a typhoon churned across the Southeast Asian country, killing at least 20 people.

Typhoon Glenda (international name ''Rammasun''), the strongest storm to hit the Philippines this year, is heading towards China after cutting a path across the main island of Luzon, shutting down the capital and knocking down trees and power lines, causing widespread blackouts.

Most schools remain closed in the capital and southern Luzon provinces, the most densely populated part of the country with about 17 million people. Power has been restored to just over half of the Luzon grid, a transmission agency official said.

Disaster officials are still assessing damage but the coconut-growing Quezon province south of Manila appears to have borne the brunt of Rammasun, which intensified into a category 3 typhoon as it crossed the Philippines.

Tropical Storm Risk, which monitors cyclones, has downgraded Rammasun to a category 1 storm on a scale of one to five as it heads northwest into the South China Sea.

"In the aspect of infrastructure, it looks like Quezon province was most affected," said retired Admiral Alexander Pama, executive director of the national disaster agency.

"As of last night, it looks like there was a lot of damage," he said. An aerial survey would be conducted to confirm reports that about 95 percent of the province was damaged, he said.

Quezon governor David Suarez said the province was preparing to declare a state of calamity. He said officials had confirmed seven people died in the province.

"Last night we had difficulty going around because many trees and fallen poles are blocking highways and roads," Suarez said in a radio interview.

Nationwide, more than 420,000 people were forced out of their homes and into evacuation centers, many in the eastern Bicol region where the typhoon first made landfall, the disaster agency said.

At least 20 people died, most of them hit by fallen trees and electric poles, and five others were missing, the agency said. The number of deaths may rise, with government officials citing new reports of casualties.

Officials said more than half a million people were affected by the typhoon, including some in the central Philippines. The area is still recovering from Haiyan, one of the biggest cyclones known to have made landfall anywhere. Haiyan killed more than 6,100 in the central provinces in November, many in tsunami-like sea surges, and made millions homeless.

source:  www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Glenda' disrupts PLDT, Globe, Smart services

MANILA – Massive power outages caused by typhoon "Glenda" have also disrupted services of the country's major telecommunication firms.

Services of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Smart Communications, and Sun Cellular were disrupted in parts of Metro Manila as well as in Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 4 (CALABARZON), and 5 (Bicol).

“Our estimate is that 15 percent and 20 percent of our facilities in Metro Manila and in South Luzon respectively, were affected by the storm. Hardest hit areas were the provinces of Masbate, Sorsogon and Albay,” said PLDT, Smart, and Sun in a joint statement.

The Pangilinan-led firms said that most of its fixed line and mobile network facilities are only running on standby power due to the power outages.

If power is not restored soon, normal services of PLDT, Smart and Sun will be disrupted once internal batteries in its equipment run out.

“We wish to assure the public that we are exerting every effort to restore normal operations as soon as possible. We thank you for your patience and understanding,” the companies said.

Free calls or “libreng tawag” stations are set up in Baytown Market, Brgy. San Isidro, Angono, Rizal, Tonsuya Elementary School, Malabon City, Baseco Evacuation Center Manila, Navotas City Hall, and in Legazpi City in cooperation with the Alagang Kapatid Foundation.

Globe Telecom, meanwhile, said its mobile services were affected in Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Masbate, Quezon and Sorsogon.

Several cell site antennas of Globe were also damaged by strong winds, but no major infrastructure damage was reported.

Globe said its facilities are also running on generators and reserve power.

"Our on-ground technical team are continuously providing reports and doing site assessments for immediate service recovery," said Globe corporate communications head Yoly Crisanto.

The Ayala-led firm also said it is preparing to mobilize “libreng tawag” facilities and relief operations in the areas hit by the typhoon.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Class suspensions for Wednesday, July 16

MANILA  - Several local government units have declared class suspensions for Wednesday, July 16, due to typhoon "Glenda."

The following local governments have suspended classes:

All levels (public and private):

Angono, Rizal
Antipolo City
Balagtas, Bulacan
Cavite
Caloocan
Las Pinas City
Laguna
Marikina City
Makati City
Malolos, Bulacan
Mandaluyong City
Manila City
Muntinlupa City
Navotas
Pateros
Paranaque
Pasay City
Quezon City
Valenzuela City
San Juan City
San Mateo, Rizal
Taguig City

Pre-school to highschool (public and private):

Binangonan, Rizal

Schools, colleges and universities

Philippine College of Criminology Classes



Polytechnic University of the Philippines (Metro Manila, Quezon, Laguna, Sto. Tomas, Ragay and Mariveles campuses)

State weather bureau PAGASA said the typhoon is expected to make landfall in Albay-Sorsogon area on Tuesday afternoon.

After making landfall, it will move towards Southern Luzon and Metro Manila, and then exit the Philippine landmass through Zambales area on Wednesday afternoon.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com