Over 73K affected by typhoon Kiko; 10 killed

(Updated 5:30 p.m.) At least 73,171 people were affected when typhoon "Kiko" lashed parts of the country, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said Saturday. As of 8 a.m., the NDCC said 14,590 families or 73,171 people were affected in 58 villages in three cities and six towns in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Metro Manila. Of these, 1,085 families or 3,959 people were evacuated to nine evacuation centers. The death toll stood at 10, while 18 were injured including 12 in Baguio City and six in Barangay Sta. Juliana in Capas, Tarlac. The NDCC identified the two latest fatalities as Armando Bacani of Barangay Patting in Capas and Reynoso Dumaplin of Botolan, Zambales. Bacani drowned and was recovered along the banks of Sta. Julian River. Dumaplin died of a heart attack during the typhoon. Injured in a landslide in Kias, Baguio City were miners Gerard Farnican, Roger Dulnuan, Dennis Gomatin, Benjamin Daulayan, Steve Chaloven, Napoleon Dimanga, Dennis Dulnuan, Nestor Puguoen, and Edgar Daulayan. Meanwhile, at least four domestic and international flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have been canceled due to the effects of 'Kiko'. [See: Four int'l, domestic flights canceled due to 'Kiko'] President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has already ordered government agencies to extend help to people affected by typhoon “Kiko" and tropical storm “Jolina" in past weeks, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said. Remonde, who is with Mrs. Arroyo in Cebu, said the NDCC and Department of Social Welfare and Development are to focus efforts on relief and evacuation. "The president has directed the NDCC to operate noong isang araw pa. Yung DSWD, yung NDCC, for relief and evacuation (The president issued the order since one day ago. The DSWD and NDCC are to focus on relief and evacuation)," he said on government-run dzRB radio. Mrs. Arroyo is also likely to visit the affected areas next week, he added. Destruction Damage to infrastructure and agriculture in Benguet and Pampanga alone was initially estimated at P4.26 million, including P2.75 million to infrastructure and P1.51 million to agriculture. At least 23 houses were destroyed and six damaged. Tublay, Atok, a portion of Benguet State University, Atok Trail, Tuba, Camp 3, Itogon and Central Halili in Benguet continued to experience power interruptions. The towns of Dolores, San Juan and Tineg in Abra province likewise experienced brownouts. In the Ilocos Sur, the Quirino-Cervantes Road was not passable to all vehicles, while Km 585+000 to Km 550+000 in Manayon Section in Bangui, Ilocos Norte had only one lane passable due to slides. The road linking Nueva Ecija to Aurora province also remained closed to all vehicles, while parts of the Daang Maharlika Road in Nueva Ecija had only one lane passable. Singalat-Natividad to Palayan also in Nueva Ecija was not passable to light vehicles due to floodws. In Pampanga, the San Fernando-Lubao Road remained closed to light vehicles. In Zambales, a section of the Olongapo-Bugallon Road was not passable to all vehicles due to a collapsed box culvert caused by the breaching of the dike. The Zambales-Tarlac Road was also closed to all vehicles. In Mindoro Occidental, portions of the MWCR were passable to light vehicles only or not passable to all vehicles. In Palawan, the PPNR had only half a lane passable due to heavy landslides. The Junction of Kayuba-Paglaum-Bato Road Balete Timber Bridge was not passable. In Iloilo, the Manduriao-San Miguel-Alimodan Road Eloisa Bridge was not passable as the bridge was scoured. In Misamis Occidental, the Oroquieta City-Catamba Mt. Road was hardly passable due to landslides on carriageway. In North Cotabato, the Banisilan-Gulling-Libungan Road Grebona Bridge was not passable as it collapsed due to flash floods. Closed roads Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Leo Nilo dela Cruz, regional police director for Central Luzon, said he would be sending in policemen to help personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highway in clearing the roads affected by landslides. Earlier reports said the road from Barangay (village) Putlan leading to Carranglan town has been closed down to give way to government workers to take out scattered debris created by a landslide in the area. "Masikip talaga diyan, papuntang north sa east side ng luzon. Ganyan talaga ang resulta ng bagyong Kiko. Nasira ang mga kalsada natin (Roads are really narrow going north-boung on the east side of Luzon. Our roads really get damaged as a result of typhoon Kiko)," dela Cruz said. "Dadagdagan po natin ng pulis para matulungan ang daloy ng trapiko (We will augment our police forces in the area to help ease traffic)," the police official assured. Dela Cruz also discouraged motorists from taking to the road if they do not have important engagements so as not to contribute from further traffic congestion in the area. In a separate radio report, DPWH Region IV director Alfredo Tolentino said they still need to wait for the rains to subside in Zambales before they start repairing the dike that was breached by the strong current of water. Tolentino said the DPWH has been preparing its bulldozers and other equipment since Friday but was unable to close in on the dike due to the strong current from the Bucao river. Tolentino added that half of the 45-meter earth dike has been destroyed by the floods. He advised motorists to enter Zambales only through Pangasinan as road repairs have yet to begin- with Mark Merueñas and Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANEws.TV