Typhoon Karen exposes city’s waning soil base

BAGUIO CITY—Banging Northern Luzon with maximum winds of up to 140-kph and gusts of up to 170-kph at its high point, typhoon Karen’s unrelenting rainfall validated earlier findings of Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (MGB-DENR) regarding critical and landslide susceptible areas within the city.

Despite being placed under typhoon signal No. 1, a total of 29-weak soil base related incidents were reported to the City Disaster Coordinating Council–Disaster Operations Center (CDCC-DOC).

CDCC-DOC chief Engr. Archomore Ellamil said, “We believe most damage to property related incidents that involved landslides and collapsed ripraps were located in the red zones identified by the MGB-DENR in its geo-hazards map, which was submitted to the city earlier this year.”

“On the other hand,” he said, “the reported 10-fallen trees or trees in danger of falling are located mostly in densely populated areas where forest cover is close to nil.”

Meantime, the CDCC placed the City Camp Lagoon on a round-the-clock watch as water reportedly threatened residents of possible flooding. # Isagani S. Liporada/PIO Baguio City

Fariñas to DA: more NFA outlets please

BAGUIO CITY—Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas wanted the Department of Agriculture (DA) to open more outlets of the National Food Authority (NFA) rice in the city and other urban and rural areas in the country to ensure ample distribution of the subsidized rice to the poor.

“If indeed the country has sufficient rice supply, there is a need for the DA and the NFA to open more rice outlets that would cater to the needs of the ordinary Filipino citizen and prevent the occurrence of long lines in selected NFA outlets,” Fariñas said.

“As a stabilizer, the DA and NFA must flood the market with its sufficient rice stocks to help lower the price of commercial rice and to prevent politicians from interfering with the distribution of rice as well as erase the doubts in the minds of the people that the rice shortage is being used to cover up other sensitive national issues.” # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO Baguio City

Medicine charity campaign at SM

BAGUIO CITY—SM Baguio is inviting its shoppers and pharmaceutical companies to donate their unopened and unexpired medicines and share these with the less fortunate in SM Foundation’s Gamot Para sa Kapwa charity campaign.

Donors can bring their medicines at the Gamot Para sa Kapwa booth located at the Upper Ground Floor of SM City Baguio, near the elevator beside Watson’s.

The project will reach out to the underprivileged families in far flung areas as well as disaster victims. Your cash and in kind donations will help Philippine National Red Cross raise funds and to highlight their contribution to society. # SM Release