Philippines Feel the Effects of Kujira (Dante) - NASA/TRMM

Kujira became the first typhoon of the year in the northern West Pacific as it pulled away from the east-central Philippines early on the afternoon (local time) of the 4th of May 2009. The Philippines, which are frequently influenced by tropical cyclones, felt the effects of Kujira (known locally as "Dante") while it was still just a tropical storm.

A tropical depression formed from a stationary area of low pressure on the afternoon (local time) of May 1st near the southeastern tip of Luzon along the eastern side of the central Philippines. Later that same day the depression was upgraded to a minimal tropical storm and was named Kujira. The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (commonly known as TRMM) has been providing valuable images and information on tropical cyclones around the Tropics for over 11 years now since its launch back in November of 1997. Armed with a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors, TRMM can provide unique images of tropical cyclones.

This first image from TRMM shows what would later become Kujira just after it had formed into a tropical depression. The image was taken at 6:28 UTC (2:28 pm local time) on 2 May 2009. It shows the horizontal pattern of rain intensity (top down view) within the depression. Rain rates in the center of the swath are from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR), a unique space-borne precipitation radar, while those in the outer swath are from the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI). These rain rates are overlaid on visible and infrared (IR) data from the TRMM Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). At the time of this image, the system was a new depression with sustained winds estimated at just 30 knots (35 mph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Besides its own estimates, TRMM can be used to calibrate rainfall estimates from other satellites for increased coverage. The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is used to monitor rainfall over the global Tropics. TMPA rainfall totals associated with this system are shown for the period 27 April to 4 May 2009. The analysis shows extremely heavy amounts of rain on the order of 750 mm or more (~30 inches, shown by the lighter shade of brown) over southeastern Luzon and Catanduanes Island just to the east. Just over 12 hours after the previous TRMM snapshot of the depression was taken, a landslide in Sorsogon province in far southeastern Luzon killed 17 people when their houses were swept away in a village of Magallanes town. So far a total of 23 persons are reported to have died in the region on account of the storm, mainly due to flooding and landslides.

On Sunday May 3rd, Kujira finally began to move off to the northeast away from the islands and into the northern Philippine Sea. In the process, it also gained strength. This last image from TRMM was taken at 20:25 UTC on the 3rd of May (4:25 am 4 May local time) as it was moving northeast away from the Philippines; at that time it was a strong tropical storm with sustained winds estimated at 55 knots (~63 mph). In this image, Kujira has a small but well-defined core made up almost entirely of a complete eyewall containing moderate to intense rain (continuous circular area of green and red, respectively). Kujira would go on to become a strong Category 3 typhoon with sustained winds estimated at 100 knots (115 mph) by the following afternoon. The storm is expected to strengthen slightly before weakening in the northwest Pacific well south of Japan.

Images by Hal Pierce(SSAI/NASA GSFC) and captions by Steve Lang (SSAI/NASA GSFC)

Note: The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) is a joint mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) designed to monitor and study tropical rainfall.

RELATED LINKS:

• Rain Averages 240 Days in a Year - Average rainfall in Catanduanes

'Crising' Affects 500 Families in Quezon, Isolates Bicol Towns - GMANews.tv

MANILA, Philippines - Rains and floods brought by tropical depression "Crising" have forced the evacuation of at least 500 families in Quezon province and isolated several areas in Bicol.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Friday that as of 1 p.m. Thursday, 10 villages in Lucena City were flooded, forcing the families to leave their homes.

In a situation report on its Web site (www.ndcc.gov.ph), the NDCC said 500 families or 2,500 persons were brought to six elementary schools in Barangay 1, Ibabang Dupay, 5, 7, 9, and 10.

On the other hand, isolated landslides and flash floods were reported in Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Masbate provinces in Bicol.

At Catanduanes, areas along Bucon and Inalmasinan Rivers were flooded, while in San Miguel town, crops along the riverside were submerged and animals drowned.

Landslides were recorded at Paraiso, Pagsanghan and Boton villages, while flash floods were recorded in Sagrada and Hinipaan villages.

The road network from Virac to Bagamanoc was rendered impassable.

In Camarines Norte, portions of Daang Maharlika near Daguit were impassable, with motorists bound for Manila advised to take an alternate route via Quirino Highway.

San Vicente town was isolated after a temporary bridge was washed out.
In Mercedes town, one bridge and one spillway were washed out.

In Masbate, some areas were flooded, the NDCC said. - GMANews.TV

RELATED LINKS:

• Rain Averages 240 Days in a Year

Rain Averages 240 Days in a Year

I was searching for a 5-year period updated rainfall chart for Catanduanes because I needed one to support my decision to hold a project. A friend once told me, that our island was one time a trivia question on a popular T.V. noontime show, where rainfall averages 240 days in a year.

Here are some interesting facts I found online:

www.worldwildlife.org/

The southeastern portions of Luzon in Polillo and Catanduanes Islands have no dry season but do have a period of increased rainfall from May to January. Northwestern Luzon has two distinct seasons, being wet from May to October and dry November to April.

source: http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/im/im0123_full.html

Catanduanes Tribune, 22 January 2009 report:
On the other hand, the Baras station recorded a maximum of 244 millimeters of rain during the period from 6 P.M. of Jan. 6 to 2:35 A.M. of Jan. 7 when a local thunderstorm caused flashfloods and landslides in Bato, Baras, San Miguel, Viga, Panganiban, Bagamanoc and Gigmoto. Virac had a much lesser volume of precipitation at 130 millimeters, but still higher than the monthly average of 65 mm and maximum of 120 mm for the entire island, Pantino added.

source: http://www.catanduanestribune.com/NewsArticle/Detail.aspx?newsID=5050

www.wikipedia.org/ Typhoon Unding (2004):

There was an area of extreme rainfall measuring possibly 40 inches (1,000 mm) just east off the coast of southern Luzon. Much of southern Luzon and other portions of central Philippines received rainfall between 10 to 20 inches (510 mm). Catanduanes and extreme southeastern Luzon might have been blanketed in as much as 35 inches (890 mm) of rain though. Naga City only received a total of 8.26 inches (210 mm) of rainfall, but it was enough to flood some low-lying areas. The highest 24 hour rainfall amount from the Philippines was 246.4 mm at Catanduanes between midday the 15th and 16th. The passing of four cyclones in a short period of time as mentioned above caused a great deal of damage. Over 1,400 people either died or were missing, mostly from Winnie. Rainfall from all systems was extremely high.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Muifa_(2004)

CitiBank World Privileges:

One of the Philippines best surfing locations is Puraran Beach, on Catanduanes Island, in the Pacific Ocean just off Luzon. Its white sand beach has an unspoiled raw beauty, but strong currents breaking on the world-famous “Majestics” make it suitable for experienced surfers only.

Other white sand beaches close by include Mamangal Beach near San Andres town and Igang Beach. But be warned, Catanduanes is regularly hit by typhoons, and it has the highest annual rainfall in the Philippines.

source: https://worldprivileges.citibank.com/worldprivileges/travellerguide/en_tg_ph_content.html#5

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite (known as TRMM) was placed into service in November of 1997. From its low-earth orbit, TRMM has been measuring rainfall over the global Tropics using a combination of passive microwave and active radar sensors. The TRMM-based, near-real time Multi- satellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center monitors rainfall over the global Tropics. MPA rainfall totals due to Durian are shown here for the period 24 November to 1 December 2006 for the Central Philippines. Rainfall totals exceeding 200 mm (~8 inches) are shown in red and extend from the western Philippine Sea across southern sections of Luzon, Catanduanes Island (northwestern most island shown), and northern Samar. Locally up to 18 inches of rain were reported in Albay province. Mayon volcano (2462 m) is also located in Albay province and is the Philippines' most active volcano. An eruption earlier in the year left the steep slopes covered with a large amount of volcanic ash. It was this combination of ash and the torrential rains from Durian that led to the massive mudslides that buried entire villages in the region.

source: http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/publications_dir/philippine_mudslides_30nov06.html

Manila Bulletin Online:
Corregidor is an easy enough place to get to but what about a province like Catanduanes? It has rainfall 10 out of 12 months in a year and there are frequent landslides. But, oh, what a place.

Sidenote: People often go to a place like Catanduanes and say, "Wow, parang wala ka sa Pilipinas." That’s unfortunate. It simply means that this person hasn’t really gone around the country all that much and seems to have little appreciation for the actual diversity available in the country. Solution: Keep on exploring the Philippines. It’s a good thing being a tourist in your own country.

A place like this is so rich in photographic possibilities. The small town of Viga was hard to get to but in just less than two hours generated so many photos. Make sure you get shots of people (just ask their permission first, please) and, in the spirit of doing an essay, shoot even the things around them. What are they doing? What makes up their entire day, among others.

source: http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/06/18/PIPE20080618127524.html

RELATED LINKS:

• Rain Helps Carbon Sink - Theory on the unusual rainfall in Catanduanes
• Carbon Sink Factor - Rain Might Be Leading Carbon Sink Factor
• Rain Helps Carbon Sink - Carbon Sink
• Five Strongest Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines (1947 - 2006) - Philippines strongest typhoons

Tragedy Of The Commons In Solong

The things we share as humans – air, water, land and other aspects of the natural world – that society shares among its members are generally referred to as commons. Garret Hardin (1968) expounded the phrase Tragedy of the Commons as to describe the result when industry does not take into account the cost of protection of the environment in the accounting of the price of a good or service.

The devastation wrought by the recent flash floods in Solong, San Miguel the other week clearly demonstrated one inconvenient truth: The Tragedy of the Commons in that upland barangay reared its ugly head. Nature, when abused suffers in silence. But the moment it gets mad, it strikes hard. Human technology are rendered inutile vis-à-vis its fury and magnitude of destruction.

Knowledgeable sources said the fate of impending environmental disaster in that upland barangay had been sealed initially by the construction of an access road for eco-tourism purposes. Accordingly, destroyed by that road cut through its verdant forests were 15 hectares of abaca plantation which FIDA had to phase out unfortunately.

Since then, landslides occurred gradually on the winding road up to the dam site. Unknown to the residents below were stockpile of excavated earth from the dam site which eventually eroded down the hapless unsuspecting residents when the three-hour thunderstorm brought with it heavy rains.

It would be safe to say then that that eco-tourism access road bided out by the DPWH regional office in the last quarter of 2006 and the mini-hydro project of the Sunwest Water Electric Co. (SUWECO) have caused that environmental damage. In fairness to the above-mentioned entities, illegal logging might have contributed to that environmental disaster.

Nevertheless, SUWECO’s quick response to said emergency deserves credit. But that is not enough.

It is SUWECO’s responsibility to immediately put into place appropriate mitigating measures to avoid, if not minimize further damage to life and property.

Their incoming measures would tell us whether SUWECO had actually prepared a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before they were issued ECC by the DENR.

That initial environmental disaster should serve as wake-up call to SUWECO, the DPWH, DENR and LGUs in general. It calls for a renewed commitment to environmentalism which subscribes to the idea that we human beings must see ourselves as a part of nature.

Environmental Education should make us realize that humans are but one link in the chain of living things, in fact, in the “great chain of being.”

source: Bicol Peryodiko Editorial

NDCC Update

Progress Report: Re Effects of Tail-End of Cold Front That Triggered Continuous Heavy Rains From January 9-12, 2009 Affecting Regions I, V, VI, VII, VIII, X And XI

Date: 12 January, 2009
Reference: OCD Regions I, V, VI, VII, VIII, X and XI

I. Situation Overview

• The tail-end of cold front affecting the Bicol region and eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao from January 7-12, 2009 triggered the occurence of continuous rains which caused flashfloods/floodings, high tides/big waves and sea mishaps in Regions I, V, VI, VII, VIII, X and XI.

Region V

• PCG Bicol District suspended trips going to island provinces of Catanduanes, Masbate and Samar due to strong winds and rough seas brought about by tail-end of cold front. Initially, it was reported that 1,006 persons, 47 small cars, 6 passenger bus, 90 trucks, 4 vessels and 7 motorized bancas were stranded. However, as of 8:00 AM today 12 January 2009, all ports are cleared of stranded passengers upon resumption of trips in Bicol area.

Catanduanes (flashflood/landslides)

• One, identified as John Mark Tatad, 5 years old of District 1 Gigmoto, Catanduanes was reported dead due to drowning.
• There were 14,643 families and 74,701 persons affected in 162 barangays of 11 municipalities namely: Bagamanoc, Baras, Bato, Caramoran, Gigmoto, Pandan, Panganiban, San Miguel, San Andres, Viga and Virac.
• All roads and bridges in Catanduanes affected by landslides were already passable as of 11 January 2009.

II. Actions Taken
Region V

• PDCC Catanduanes distributed relief assistance in the form of noodles, rice and canned goods in Bagamanoc, Baras, San Miguel and Viga amounting to Php 432,000.00.
• DSWD 5 augmented 100 bags of rice and assorted canned goods (pork and beans, sausages and sardines) and 50 pcs T-shirts to PDCC Catanduanes which are being repacked for distribution to other affected municipalities.

source: National Disaster Coordinating Council

NDCC Report: Minor Flooding and Landslide

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) 7 January 2009 report.

Situation Overview

• Governor Joseph C. Cua of Catanduanes Province DPWH 5 has confirmed that continuous rains which occured since last night triggered the occurrence of landslide and flooding along Circumferential Road in said province.
• Sections were affected last night were Brgy Sipi, Bato; Bato-Linao; Tilod, Baras and Banabaan in Caramoran; and two sections along Baras-Gimoto Road.

One electric post in Viga-Bagamanoc Road collapsed due to landslide.

No casualty were reported in relation to landslide incident.

Road Condition as of 3:00 PM today, 7 January 2009

• Virac-San Andres Road Section - passable until the area of Panabanaon as the chokepoint of the heavy landslide in the area.
• San Andres-Caramoran-Pandan Road Section - impassable due to the chokepoint at the Panabanaon area which is totally under debris of mud, gravel and vegetation.
• Virac-San Miguel Road Section - The Balonbong area had been blocked again by debris. This section has an intermittent occurence of landslides. Hence all types of vehicles cannot pass this section and commuters are now using Bato river to traverse.
• Virac-Bato-Baras Road Section - passable until Bagumbayan, Baras and with landslide at Tilod and Batolinao, all of Baras.
• Baras-Gigmoto Road Section - impassable due to landslide at Barangay Agban.
• Gigmoto-Viga Road Section - impassable due to landslide at Villa Aurora.
• Viga-Bagamanoc Road - now passable to tourist as clearing operations is ongoing.

Actions Taken

• The First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative (FICELCO) is currently undergoing repair of collapsed post in Viga - Bagamanoc. Electricity is still cut off until the post is fixed.
• DPWH is fast tracking the clearing operations in all landslide areas and monitoring all vital reports and situations including warning generations for all threats caused by the intermittent bad weather.

Issues and Concern
Catanduanes Province is now low on petroleum and LPG supplies due to the rough seas. There is an intermittent power outage in the entire island.

Floods and Landslides

One time, I got stranded in the mountains in the north because of landslides and had to wait for hours before earth-moving equipments reached the area to clear the dirt and debris. After the long wait, we hit the road thinking that all was clear ahead, but upon reaching barangay Pagsangahan, the river was overflowing. That was four years ago... Please watch the news footages below.

September 24, 2008: GMA News Research names landslide prone areas.

October 29, 2007: Landslide kills 5 in Baras, Catanduanes.

What are landslides and how are they caused?

Five Strongest Tropical Cyclones in the Philippines (1947-2006)

1. REMING Durian (Nov 26-Dec 1, 2006) 320 kph Virac, Catanduanes
2. SENING Joan (Oct 11-15, 1970) 275 kph Virac, Catanduanes
3. ROSING Angela (Oct 30-Nov 4, 1995) 260 kph Virac, Catanduanes
4. ANDING Irma (Nov 21-27, 1981) 260 kph Daet, Camarines Norte
5. LOLENG Babs (Oct 15-24, 1998) 250 kph Virac, Catanduanes
   

Source: http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/cab/5_tc_landfall_2.htm (accessed July 21,2008)RELATED LINKS:

• Typhoon and Briquetting - Suggestion to convert typhoon debris to alternative cooking fuel.