Ulysses leaves devastation, trauma in its wake

Typhoon Ulysses moved away from the Philippines on Thursday night after a day of devastation and flooding that left loss and trauma in its wake.

Heavy rains in its bands began to affect areas even before in made its first landfall Thursday morning, affecting Bicol provinces still recovering from the effects of a series of typhoons over the past several weeks.

Two individuals died, four went missing, and eight others were injured in Camarines Norte after Typhoon Ulysses battered the Bicol Region, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region V reported.

Flooding incidents were reported in 37 municipalities in the Bicol Region, as well as five landslides in four towns.

In Catanduanes, the worst-hit province by Super Typhoon Rolly last month, there were landslides along key roads anew, while house repairs and temporary shelters made in between the two cyclones were again destroyed.

"Back to ground zero tayo ngayon after Bagyong Ulysses," Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua said.

Ulysses cut its path of destruction through Quezon and Rizal provinces, leading to flooding as rivers overflowed due to excess runoff water as a result of rains from the earlier typhoons.

It was a familiar scene in Marikina City, where residents feared a redux of the devastating flooding from 2009's Ondoy after the city's river breached third alarm levels early in the day.

Ondoy trauma

As early as 4 a.m. Thursday, many residents found themselves helpless on their rooftops as they waited for rescue teams to arrive.

“Akala po namin katapusan na namin e,” one of the mothers, visibly shaken, said in a report on 24 Oras by Maki Pulido. 

As of Thursday afternoon, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said more than half of stranded residents still needed rescuing. Teodoro appealed for understanding from residents as rescue teams battled a myriad of roadblocks.

Similar scenes were visible in nearby Rizal towns located in the Marikina River valley: San Mateo, Rodriguez, and Montalban.

Flooding was also reported elsewhere in Batangas, Laguna, and Bulacan, as well as parts of Manila, Pasay, and Quezon City.

In Bocaue, Bulacan, MacArthur Highway remained impassable with waist-deep floods.

GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz said that while Ulysses did not pack as much rains as Ondoy, its impact was affected by previous typhoons that came before it.

"Ito kasing si Ulysses, ilang bagyo na kasi ang dumaan bago ito dumaan. So, 'yung lupa, maging sa Sierra Madre ay babad na babad na. Saturated na kaya kaunting ulan lamang ay nagkakaroon ng ng run-off," Mang Tani said.

Climate justice

President Rodrigo Duterte was scheduled to speak at the 37th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, but cut his participation in the virtual summit short to address the country and to conduct an aerial inspection of the Ulysses damage.

In his address, Duterte  called on Southeast Asian countries to demand accountability from rich nations responsible for climate change, making his appeal against the backdrop of a third powerful storm battering the country over a three-week period and the eighth that has caused widespread damage in the past two months.

"We must amplify our voices to demand climate justice from those most responsible for this existential challenge we face today. Developed countries must lead in deep and drastic cuts in carbon emissions. They must act now, or it would be too late. Or if I may say addedly, it is too late," he said at the plenary session of the virtual 37th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.

In his address to the country, he read prepared remarks, assuring Filipinos that the government is ready to respond to their needs.

But he eventually veered off the prepared speech, apparently addressing criticism about his presence during the crisis.

"Gusto kong lumangoy, matagal na akong hindi naligo eh. Kaya lang, ayaw nitong mga sundalo, sila ang ayaw gustong maligo, ibig sabihin," he said.

"It's not that I'm at a distance from you. Gustong pumunta doon, makipaglangoy nga sa inyo. Ang problema, pinipigilan ako kasi raw, 'pag namatay ako, isa lang ang presidente. Sabi ko, may vice president naman. Wala naman silang sinasagot. Nagtitinginan lang sila tapos hindi, hindi ka pwedeng mamatay itong panahon na ito. Kung malunod ka, malulunod kaming lahat nagtatrabaho sa iyo."

Not flat-footed

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense maintained that it was not caught flat-footed by Ulysses, laying the blame of residents in flood-prone areas that refused to evacuate.

"We were not actually caught flat-footed dito sa event na ito. Kung minsan lang kasi, kapag nag-iikot ang ating local officials, hindi kaagad sumusunod ang mga kababayan natin," Monilla said in a press briefing.

According to Monilla, evacuation of residents in flood-prone areas began as early as Wednesday and even the day before.

But while Ulysses made its way to the West Philippine Sea, its effects may not yet be over.

Pampanga authorities are preparing for the onset of more floods in two days with the expected flow of water downstream from Nueva Ecija toward the province, with a particular focus on flood-prone places such as Macabebe, Masantol, and Apalit.

The Pampanga River is also anticipated to overflow, but the province has so far avoided the need for emergency evacuation of residents thanks to their pre-emptive evacuation efforts.

Several dams across Luzon have started releasing excess water due to Ulysses, with several others reaching critical status.

Binga Dam in Benguet and Magat Dam in Isabela began discharging water after they exceeded "normal water level."

Angat Dam also began releasing water, affecting low-lying places in Norzagaray, Angat, San Rafael, Bustos, Baliuag, Pulilan, Plaridel, and Hagonoy in Bulacan. Downriver, Ipo Dam also began to release water.

Water, power, phones

The rains also resulted in high turbidity from the water at Ipo Dam, leading water utility Maynilad to reduce water production in its treatment plants.

In an advisory, Maynilad said the following areas will experience service interruptions as it was constrained to reduce water production in its treatment plants.

• Bulacan
• Caloocan
• Malabon
• Navotas
• Valenzuela
• Quezon City
• Manila
• Makati
• Pasay
• Parañaque
• Las Piñas
• Muntinlupa
• parts of Cavite

“The duration of the service interruptions will gradually shorten as the turbidity dissipates. Meantime, affected customers are advised to store water when supply is available,” Maynilad said.

Meanwhile, winds and rains from Ulysses caused major disruption to the Meralco's services, with some 3.8 million people losing power during the day. As of noon, it had reduced that number to 1.94 million people.

Telecommunications companies PLDT-Smart and Globe also said their services have been hampered by Ulysses.

Malacanang has suspended government work and public school classes at all levels in Luzon on Friday. However, agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, disaster preparedness and response, and/or the performance of other vital services shall continue with their operations, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“We leave the suspension of work for private companies, offices and schools to their respective heads’ discretion,” he said.

Operations of LRT, MRT, and Philippine National Railway lines will resume on Friday. —JST, GMA News