'Glenda' farther from RP but rains, floods persist

Typhoon Glenda (international name: Kaemi) continued to move out of Philippine territory but persistent heavy rains until Tuesday morning triggered floods in low-lying areas in Metro Manila and Bulacan. The Novaliches area near the boundary of Quezon and Caloocan cities was also flooded, even as the Tullahan River threatened to overflow. In northern Metro Manila, several areas of Malabon City remained flooded and impassable to light vehicles. As of Monday night, 800 families were in danger and being eyed for evacuation. Emergency personnel were on standby while rubber boats were already prepared for the possible rescue of affected families. In Marikina, residents scored the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for failing to complete work on Tumana Bridge, which remained impassable. Local officials had referred to the bridge as the "longest bridge," but in terms of construction time. In Bulacan, several towns remained flooded while the water level in Angat and Ipo Dams rose. Authorities, however, assured the public that the water levels have not reached critical levels. Radio station DZRH said the water level at Angat Dam, which supplies most of Metro Manila's water, climbed to 183 meters but was still below the critical level of 212 meters. The water level at Ipo Dam, meanwhile, reached 101 meters. MARCHING UNDER RAINY SKIES Drenched commuters in the Makati business district were up in arms on Monday morning as activists staged a protest rally, creating a traffic snarl during the morning rush hour. Members of the Filipino Democratic Movement - which counts among its members bus, jeepney and tricycle drivers - marched along Jupiter Street at about 7 a.m. Jeepney drivers halted their usual operations while the marchers held a "tricycle parade," radio station DZBB reported. Rally organizers called for a fare hike and the removal of the value-added tax from fuel, adding this was their response to President Arroyo's state of the nation address (SONA) last Monday. STORM SIGNAL WARNINGS State weather forecasters reported that Typhoon Glenda was already over southern Taiwan but storm signal warnings were in effect over 18 areas in the country. Storm Signal No. 3 was hoisted over the Batanes and Calayan groups of islands; while Storm Signal No. 2 was in effect over Northern Cagayan, the Babuyan Islands, Apayao and Ilocos Norte. Storm Signal No. 1 was raised over the rest of Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, Abra, Mt. Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Isabela, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) last spotted the weather disturbance some 280 kilometers north of Basco, Batanes. Glenda carried maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It was moving west northwest at a speed of 19 kph. Come Wednesday morning, Glenda is expected to be located some 650 kms northwest of Basco, Batanes or 410 kms northwest of Kaoshung in southern Taiwan. The typhoon was expected to enhance the southwest monsoon, which may bring moderate to heavy rains with occasional gusty winds over Luzon and the Western Visayas. Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes and riverbanks were warned against possible flashfloods and landslides.-GMANews.TV