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Classes suspended in Puerto Princesa due to 'Urduja'

By Celeste Anna Formoso

December 18, 2017, 12:10 pm

Classes in all levels in Puerto Princesa City have been cancelled due to tropical depression Urduja early Monday morning. This photo posted by Doc Arl Bautista Carlos-Morato shows the flooded road going to Palawan State University in Barangay Tiniguiban. 

 

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (1st Update) -- The provincial and city offices of the Department of Education (DepEd) have cancelled classes in northern Palawan and in this city Monday morning after tropical depression Urduja made a landfall.

"Urduja" (international name Kai-tak), which packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 90 kilometers per hour, made a landfall in Taytay, Palawan Monday morning, state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

In its weather advisory issued at 8 a.m., PAGASA said "Urduja" has maximum winds of up to 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph. It is forecast to move west at 18 kph.

Tropical storm warning signal number 1 is hoisted over Palawan. Scattered rains will continue over the province. The state weather bureau has advised against sea travel over the seaboards of Palawan.

Daisy Anne Atretro, spokesperson of the DepEd-Palawan, said all classes in elementary in the municipality of Araceli in the northern area of the province have been cancelled as early as 6 a.m., as well as all kinder classes in Magsaysay.

“Selected cancellations in Magsaysay and Araceli while in other municipalities in the north, from kinder to Grade 12, all classes have also been cancelled. El Nido, Taytay, Coron, Culion – due to Urduja,” Atrero said.

There is no cancellation of classes, she added, in the southern part of the province due to the absence of rain. In Puerto Princesa, Richard Ligad, chief of the City Information Office (CIO), said all classes in elementary, secondary and tertiary levels have also been cancelled as of 7:00 a.m. as lingering rains have flooded

“It’s automatic. It’s been raining since yesterday,” Ligad said in media interviews, adding employees of the city government, except the first responders, have also been told to not report anymore.

City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) chief Earl Timbancaya warned residents living in low-lying and near coastal areas to take precautionary measures against landslides and strong waves that can endanger their lives.

“The Napsan-Aporawan road going to the west coast and Aborlan is already impassable,” Timbancaya said, as he cautions residents of flood- and landslide-prone areas.

The barangays that have been reported to be flooded are barangays San Jose, Tiniguiban, San Manuel, Tagburos, and San Pedro. Floods have also been recorded in some parts of Irawan.

As of press time, the national highway traversing San Manuel and San Jose is already inundated with knee-high flood waters, based on social media posts by residents.

“Baha at trapik na po dito sa amin sa San Manuel (San Manuel is now flooded and traffic is bad),” said Mel Callejo, a resident of the barangay.

“Pasok na ang baha sa bahay namin (Flood is now inside our home),” said tricycly driver June Ruiz.

Paddle boat tours to the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR), meanwhile, have been cancelled too, said Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) management spokesperson Jan Elmer Badilla.

"Sad to say, tours in the PPUR today, December 18, is cancelled due to bad weather condition. The jungle trail has been closed to tourists too, because of continuous rains," Badilla said.

Flooded road in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan due to tropical depression Urduja. (Photo courtesy of Sancho Paderes Sanchez)

 

In northern Palawan, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) chief Cruzalde Ablaña, said four families have been evacuated so far, in Barangay Buenavista, Coron town in the Calamianes Islands Group that has been placed under Tropical Storm Signal 1.

“The sun has come out in the Calamianes area. It rained yesterday but no untoward incident has been reported. The four families are temporarily seeking shelter in a daycare center,” he said.

In El Nido, a popular tourist destination north of Palawan, strong waves swept boats and other debris to the shore, causing minor damages, according to resident Judith Distal. However, she said it is no longer raining in the town.

Urduja is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Wednesday, according to PAGASA. (PNA)

 
Featured photo courtesy of Jeronimo Japon 

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