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Evacuees as spreaders feared DOH wants evac centers to watch out for virus symptoms
By Willie Casas EALTH officials on Friday called for close monitoring of evacuation centers to spot new outbreaks of the novel coronavirus, “a very strong possibility” as thousands of displaced residents fled their flooded homes in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
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Health Secretary Francisco Duque symptoms of COVID-19 among evacusaid evacuation centers should have ees, in the wake of the disaster that safety officers who will watch out for Next page
OUT OF HARM’S WAY? Evacuation centers in San Juan (left) and Marikina serve as refuge for children, women and elderly displaced by typhoon “Ulysses”. While they may be out of harm’s way for now, the Health department says, there’s a ‘very strong possibility’ of outbreaks in these centers unless they strictly abide by health and safety protocols.
Ulysses’ fury ravages P4.25b in infra, roads
Death estimates vary: 24 or 42? Landslides amid storm in Ifugao
By Vito Barcelo TYPHOON “Ulysses” caused P4.25 billion worth of damage to roads and other infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said 92 national road sections were closed due to landslides, mudflow, debris, fallen trees, and flooding but 40 of them have already been cleared. “Only 52 road sections remain closed and our target is that by tomorrow, the majority of them will be cleared,” he said. The affected roads were in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, IV-A, Bicol region, and Eastern Visayas. Most of the closed roads were in CAR, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon, Villar said. Of the total affected national roads, 19 have limited access for light to heavy vehicles due to flooding and sediment along bridge approaches. He said some 3,000 personnel and 483 vehicles were already in position to begin clearing operations.
VOL. XXXIV • NO. 253 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM NOVEMBER 13)
404,713 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
1,902 34,058 NEW
ACTIVE
7,752
31
362,903
506
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
NEW
NEW
PICKING UP THE PIECES. Residents beging cleaning up and picking up the pieces of what’s left of their belongings after the flood has subsided at North Libis, Banaba, San Mateo, Rizal following overnight rains induced by “Ulysses”, the third typhoon to hit Luzon in as many weeks.
By Rio N. Araja, Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE death toll from Typhoon “Ulysses” has risen to 27, official figures showed Friday, after some of the worst flooding in years swamped villages and forced thousands to flee their homes. Torrential rain dumped by Ulysses – the third powerful storm to hit the country in as many weeks – inundated low-lying areas of Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, trapping people on rooftops and balconies. The typhoon claimed at least 27 lives, Civil Defense figures showed, but the final toll will likely be higher as disaster agencies verify some fatalities. The Philippine National Police has recorded 42 deaths. The military put the number of fatalities at 39 with 22 missing. The PNP said 10 people died following landslides near a mining site in Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya. Police Col. Ranser Evasco, provincial director of Nueva Vizcaya Police, told radio dzBB they immediately recovered five bodies in three sitios in Barangay Runruno on the same day, but five others were missing. Next page
Water shortage persists; waves of sickness loom By Rio N. Araja WATER service interruptions, no electricity and telecommunications damage – no thanks to powerful typhoon Ulysses – are on the plates of Next page
NOT A DROP TO DRINK. After severe flooding, residents of Barangay 664-A along U.N. Avenue in Manila finding themselves lacking potable water, fall in line on November 13, 2020 to draw water from a firetruck. Many areas are experiencing water supply interruption in the aftermath of typhoon Ulysses. Norman Cruz
DUTY OVER FAMILY. Policemen rush to the aid of flood-hit families in Marikina City
affected by typhoon “Ulysses.” Police are cooperating with the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the city’s local government unit to clean up the muddy streets. #workingPCOO
First responders: Duty calls
phoon Ulysses as it barreled through Luzon Wednesday evening until about MARINE Staff Sgt. Allen Abarcar Thursday noon. The 44-year-old father of three and waded through waist-high murky floodwaters in Rizal province in a bid platoon sergeant of the Disaster Reto rescue trapped residents caught in sponse Team deployed in Rizal said Next page the catastrophic rains unleashed by Ty-
By Joyce Pangco Pañares
Price curbs set for calamity-hit Marikina, others By Maricel V. Cruz MALACANANG said Friday a price freeze had been imposed in Marikina City and seven provinces in Southern Tagalog and Bicol – meaning prices Next page