AT least three people were reported killed following the onslaught of off-season Storm Agaton, which dissipated into a tropical depression on Monday morning after lashing the Visayas and parts of Mindanao with heavy rains that caused flooding and landslides.
The casualties were recorded in Monkayo, Davao de Oro and Cateel, Davao Oriental, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which also reported that thousands of evacuated families remained in government-run shelters.
Agaton triggered flooding in 195 areas in Regions 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12, and in Caraga and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, although waters have begun to recede in some areas, while power outages were reported in at least 11 cities and municipalities.
The NDRRMC said more than 50 houses and at least 251 hectares of agricultural crops were also damaged, but figures could still increase as officials conduct post-typhoon assessments.
In Sulu, Marine forces rescued nine passengers of a boat that capsized in the waters of Barangay Tandu Bato, Luuk, Sulu on Sunday as the storm pummeled Visayas and Mindanao.
Joint Task Force Sulu commander Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio said the passengers—two adults and minors—were rescued by elements of the 4th Marine Brigade after a fisherman reported the incident.
The boat, which was overloaded, sank after it was battered by huge waves and strong current as it headed toward Sitio Taindi, Barangay Kan Mindus, Luuk, Sulu.
At the Philippine National Police, Brig. Gen Roderick Augustus Balba said policemen were deployed and are helping in disaster operations in the affected areas while additional rescue teams have also been placed on standby.
“Policemen were deployed in affected areas and even in barangays threatened by Agaton. Police authorities have been working with the LGUs and other agencies for the evacuations,” said Balba, who is the chief of the public information office.
Telco disruption
Globe Telecom Inc., meanwhile, reported service interruptions in several Visayan towns due to power failure, amid the tropical depression.
In an advisory, Globe said call and text service outages were reported in 24 towns in Leyte, 16 in Southern Leyte, 10 in Bohol and 4 in Cebu. Data connection interruptions, meanwhile, were reported in 24 towns in Leyte, 15 in Southern Leyte, 10 in Bohol, and 2 in Cebu.
Globe noted that it is also readying its Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging stations in storm-hit areas as soon as it is safe to do so.
Smart Communications Inc. and parent firm PLDT Inc., meanwhile, have yet to provide the media with a network report. However, as early as Sunday, they have “prepositioned personnel and mission-critical equipment including emergency generators in the Visayas and Mindanao.”
Since Sunday, PLDT group’s Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging stations have been on standby, ready to be deployed in areas that will be heavily impacted by the tropical cyclone.
Power restoration efforts under way
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has restored one transmission line affected by Agaton, but three more were rendered inoperational as of late Monday afternoon.
The grid operator said the Ormoc-Baybay 69kV (kilovolt) line was restored at 2:51 p.m. Electricity was thus restored to customers of Leyte Electric Cooperative (LEYECO) IV and V.
However, the Ormoc-Maasin 138kV Lines 1 and 2, Maasin-Baybay 69kV Line, and Maasin-Ubay 138kV Line remain damaged since early Tuesday morning. Customers of Bohol Electric Cooperatives (BOHECO), Bohol Light Company (BLCI), and LEYECO were affected, the NGCP said. Rene Acosta, Lorenz S. Marasigan and Lenie Lectura
Image credits: PNA/Jerome Marapo