Vital installations down from Glenda, threatened by coming typhoons

It has been forewarned on July 13, 2014 that power utility installations will be among the physical facilities that will sustain the most damage from the tropical storm / typhoon #Rammasun or #Glenda. This kind of phenomenon will keep repeating itself over and over with the advent of more intense weather and climate disturbances in this new millennium.

Shown below is the portrait of damaged power utility facilities inside BF Homes Parañaque and Las Piñas alone:

July 17, 2014

In areas around the rest of the country and in South China (lowermost photo), the impact of Glenda on installations was staggering. (Photo credits: ANC – Yahoo; AvaxNews – Adrian Ayalin; Philippine Daily Inquirer; Straits Times; Xinhua News

July 15-18, 2014

July 19, 2014

Thou shalt be quiet before the storm

Original post at: qualitychange.org

 

A simple time of silence and attentiveness is needed. For just a little while, stop the desperate fibbing about DAP, PDAF, Destroy Jinggoy-Estrada-Enrile-Binay, et al.

 

Let’s for a brief moment focus on a potential flashpoint. The power situation in Luzon and nearby areas is facing a possible threat from incoming tropical storm Rammasun. With the entry of the storm months, any small or major damage might engender greater numbers of power shortages in Luzon. Earlier, during the previous month, it was reported by Manila Times that the worsening power problems will cause severe crisis over the next two years. (Read the news item here.)

 

As early as 1990, it was already admonished by the Department of National Defense that the Philippines get into the act of laying the infrastructure for surplus power supply for the next twenty five years (from 1990 up to 2015). This suggestion was not heeded. While the intention of succeeding regime after that of Mrs. Corazon Aquino was possibly noble, the deregulation of the power sector did nothing to cure the problem of extreme shortfall in the national requirement for power.

 

Photo credit: extremetech.com

Photo credit: imageshack

We cannot overstate the potential impact of incoming Tropical Storm Rammasun (local code name Bagyo Glenda). However, with its path going through areas where above ground power transmission lines can possibly be hit by its now strengthening winds, there is no doubt that a number of circuit suspension towers will topple at the height of the storm.

 

If Rammasun itself does not completely break down major portions of Central and Southern Luzon’s suspension towers and sever a large number of electric transmission lines, forthcoming typhoons and even more minor tropical storms can do the job.

 

A large number of preventive activities need to be put in place. During the storm it will be absolutely hazardous to keep live power lines intact just to avoid transmission from tripping. The time to undertake pro-active measures is now, before the strong winds come. And following the exit of Rammasun or Glenda, more pro-active measures can then be taken – considering lessons learned from the passage of the storm.

 

These however must necessitate that serious attention be given to such kind of effort, beyond the present panicked and frenetic, super desperate moves to throw mud at each other between the group of Philippine president Mr. Aquino and his critics, as well as the Philippine Supreme Court that recently outlawed a fund use scheme called Development Acceleration Program.

 

In most developed, as well as in many developing countries, storm or typhoon buffers are installed to protect and safeguard farms and other agriculture livelihood centers.

 

Such storm buffers do not prevent total destruction of crops but these greatly minimize the losses from the havoc wreaked by the calamity.

 

For keeping as many power transmission lines and suspension towers safe, such buffers can be installed even for short-term purposes. In this case, prior to the landfall of Rammasun (Glenda), some safety measures can be installed. At the very least, lesser damage can be expected from the storm in case Rammasun (Glenda) will develop fast into a super typhoon.

 

As of this time, while there are a large number of power plant operations in Luzon are bogged down, if a substantial portion of the grid will suffer damage, the potential for burgeoning power outages will be great.

 

Rammasun is expected to hit the Philippine area of responsibility in the next 48 hours. For the love of God, stop bickering just for a short while and do something about this problem. If the Philippine government fails to listen to suggestions that could increase chances of preventing critical power outages in Luzon, then it must be the most inutile regime this country ever had in the entire history of this nation.

 

Photo credit: US NOAA

Photo credits: weather.com

Photo credit: Accuweather

 

Update 1 Video Credit: westernpacificweather.com

 

Update 2 Photo – Video Credit: westernpacificweather.com

Related articles:

GMA- Storm signals in various areas of RP as Glenda nears

 

 

Yolanda: There is a lesson to all this

What is Roxas really doing

in Tacloban anyway if the

glitches and troubles in attending

to the needs of disaster victims

can’t be resolved?

Elders used to say, even in darkness you will find some light, spelling hope and possibly a better future ahead. With the darkness wrought by Yolanda, it cannot be helped that somewhere we will find that light and the signs that all the suffering of the victims will somehow come to a close.

The occasion of doing micromanagement, grandstanding and other similar acts, apparently towards political ends, might ruin instead of prop up the chances of some politicians. This has contributed to making the situation darker in Leyte, other areas that were devastated by Yolanda.

In the case of Senator, now DILG secretary Manuel A. Roxas the 3rd, the desire to show exemplary performance and to do what other acts in Tacloban that he may not be able to perform with partners in Metro Manila, he had to sacrifice not being with the other member of his family, Mrs. Corina Sanchez Roxas and spend his working day as well as nights in Tacloban – or somewhere near that no man’s land: His stay in Tacloban irks the people who see him there and does not bode well for his political future. (Photo credit: Inquirer news)

Ms. Corazon J. Soliman on the other hand, is compelled by her duty to at least make an appearance on occasion at disaster areas being a key member of the top brass of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) unlike Mr. Roxas who has to go to Tacloban on his own resolves and determinations.

Unlike Mr. Roxas, unless there are changes we do not expect in the future, Ms. Soliman is not running for President in 2016. Eduardo D. Del Rosario, the head of the NDRRMC, should be the one staying in Tacloban – especially if he is running for President or Senator in 2016. But that may never happen. So far, because Del Rosario is a might shy over the idea of setting up camp in the disaster affected areas, even the very presence of NDRRMC according to international observers, is not felt in Tacloban and other places where they are needed the most.

This man, Del Rosario, like his seniors Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin and Assistant Secretary Efren Q. Fernandez, is deeply embattled in the Department of National Defense where there is an invisible battle being waged by certain ambitious persons who have made it their daily mantra to campaign for the civilianization of the defense department due to the fact that they are now in the most important positions. Some of these multi-diplomaed civilian persons hold four to five concurrent positions under the Secretary, the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.

Another secretary, this one without portfolio, Jose Rene Almendras, a very close friend of the President of the Philippines, former President of Manila Water, is in the limelight of the post Yolanda tragedy possibly by the design of Mr. Aquino or Almendras’ dream of reviving the golden days of the Almendras clan in politics. From being energy secretary to cabinet secretary, Almendras, aside from Mr. Roxas is now one one of the country’s hands-on disaster response management experts. And doing a bad job with Roxas at it.

As Mr. Simeon Benigno Cojuaungco Aquino the 3rd wades through the waters of indifference over the plight of the victims of Yolanda, the share prices in the Philippine stock market plummeted, ostensibly due to the risk avoidance stance of many investors worldwide. The inside track of course will reveal that apprehensions over the Aquino regime’s handling of government and the severely wanting response to Yolanda, is a main factor in the share price plunge.

There appears to be lessons in all this. Among the most critical lessons learned during the brief past few days, considering the media perception that Mr. Aquino does not fire incompetents, the following might be more sensible to sane people:

1. Roxas must return to Manila. After the Anderson Cooper faux pas of Roxas’ wife, Corina, who was merely defending her traipsing husband, Roxas should no longer be burdened with sneaking and tripping away from Metro Manila and continue with his job at DILG as Secretary in earnest.

2. As an alternative, Mr. Aquino could also replace Roxas and move him up to become the head of a new super body on trade, finance and economic development. As trade secretary, Roxas was very effective. Given that expertise, this person can scale heights beyond Mt. Everest especially in the face of our plummeting stock market performance. (If Malacanang will pay for it, http://www.qualitychange.org can draft the executive order creating the temporary super body and the law that will make it permanent provided that this site will be allowed to bill Mr. Aquino for these expensive assessments and tedious effort of drafting an enabling order tailored fit for 2016.)

3. To make DILG run smoothly, a civilian person, not a retired military nor police officer, with traits similar to or better than that of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte should be appointed by Mr. Aquino to replace Roxas. As much as possible, whether that person comes from alta sociedad (high society) or not, the new DILG secretary must be very down-to-earth and willing to hold hands with the people – particularly in disaster stricken areas. Roxas refused to dirty his hands in Tacloban and while he is perennially making his presence felt there, he appears not to be winning confidence by being a snub and appearing to be disinterested and indifferent to the suffering Taclobanons.

4. Almendras should share his powers with Undersecretary Eduardo Del Rosario. Almendras, with the absent-mindedness of Mr. Aquino, should also use the same power to with Del Rosario to goad the entire might of the NDRRMC to action. While Del Rosario is not an expert in disaster response, as a former figure head of the special warfare community in the entire armed forces, he should be a quick thinker, tactician and smooth operator. With the powers of Almendras (who has Mr. Aquino’s backing), Del Rosario’s fast execution, all government apparatus available and even private equipment, installations can be tapped and made to work in favor of the quickest resolution of the issues in the disaster afflicted regions of the country.

What appears to be necessary at this time, is massive mobilization. The tragedy brought by Yolanda spawned so many social problems. It is needless to mention all of these negative effects of that typhoon in this space. What appears to be in order is for Del Rosario to wage war against these social problems, treat these ills as the enemy and engage a gargantuan force mobilization to end the disease persisting in Leyte and neighboring provinces.

5. Ms. Corina Sanchez should no longer speak of Anderson Cooper even in jest. (www.qualitychange.org suggests sleep therapy and positive advice on hatred for men.)

6. The suggestions of qcfcgroup.com for a more meaningful approach to managing the relief distribution, by increasing to put in place a new paradigm for managing disaster response along with hazmapping.com‘s advocacy to relocate from extreme high risk areas is recommended to be followed by the government as well as Asia Health Network to increase relief goods packing centers would be a positive step to take for this regime.

7. Finally, Mr. Aquino should give importance to this man in the photo below: his appointee to the post vacated by Almendras, Secretary Jericho Petilla of the Department of Energy. Mr. Aquino can task him with providing all the support and information Del Rosario will need.

The Petilla family and the Veloso family, have almost completely replaced the Romualdezes in achieving total control and power over Leyte.

For  generations the Petillas have lorded it over Leyte, and now they have adequate power and control as well in Southern Leyte. Therefore the energy secretary, Jericho Petilla, 3-term Leyte Governor, after having benefited from the fruits of their family’s being the overlord of Leyte should know the province like the back of his hand, plus it will be a way of giving back to the province what he had received in bountiful blessings in the past.

Related Topics:

For relocation away from danger zones:

Relocation from fire vulnerable areas

New Zealand: Large scale evacuation, relocation

Relocation away from landslide threat

UNICEF: Relocating families to safe areas

Comparative view:

To relocate or not to relocate

hmes2013: Will there be more Negros, Bohol Killer Quakes?

Source: http://www.hazmapping.com

From over 40 casualties, the death toll has risen to nearly 100 in the Carmen, Bohol Province-Cebu City earthquake. At that figure, the Carmen-Cebu tremor can qualify as a Killer Quake. Cebu and nearby areas has to be declared to be in a state of calamity. There are limited manuevers that aircraft can make at the Cebu airport due to the cracking and opening up of the airport’s runways.

The six million dollar question is: how many more incidents like those in Carmen, Bohol and Cebu City and the other ones in Leyte, Samar will we be expecting?

Were the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) prepared adequately enough with equipment to monitor ground movement, tectonic plate disturbance, the nearly 100 deaths could have been avoided. 27 Billion Philippine Pesos is earmarked for pork barrel in the 2014 General Appropriations Act out of a total expenditure program of 2.26 Trillion Philippine Pesos. Would it be difficult to allocate even half of that pork barrel budget for emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction, equipment upgrade?

Past Warnings of Big Disaster

This site has been warning the public for more than four years since the time of the former President, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Due to the total torpedoing of the private sector (Corinthian Gardens, Forbes Park, Dasmarinas Village, the owners of high rise condominiums at the left side of EDSA southbound, among others), of the program for predicting highly lethal effects of a major tremor in Metro Manila and the replication of this effort in many urban areas in the country by the same sector in collusion with some corrupt officials in the government, a large disaster and environmental hazards summit was proposed to be supported by the Philippine Government and the United Nations, among other institutions from many other sectors – including the non-profit (minus the Napoles et al NGOs).

Wanting responses

It is reiterated that in the time of Mrs. Arroyo, only the then Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Ms. Elaine Bautista, now Mrs. Horn, had the small effort to make an email message to the proponents of the 2010 Disaster and Environmental Hazards Mapping Summit. And that was only because the United Nations Environment Programm (UNEP)  told the former Ms. Bautista to get in touch with HMES 2010 organizing group. At the time, concurrent to her post in MARINA, Ms. Bautista was considered a friend of UNEP and a significant point person for the Philippine Government in relation to selected UNEP concerns – particularly about emergency and assistance.

When Mr. Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino 3rd became President, the organizing group wrote to Ms. Corazon Juliano Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Gen. Voltaire Tuvera Gazmin. Ms. Soliman did not respond. It was noticed however that several days later, Gen. Gazmin, the Secretary of the Department of National Defense gave an interview to national media.

In that interview, when Gazmin was asked about what the people should do when a disaster strikes, he replied: “Run for your lives.”

Carrying the barest minimum luggage in their bodies, the poor, helpless people in above photos must have taken advice similar to that of Gen. Voltaire Gazmin’s to leave and forget belongings elsewhere and to “run for your lives.”

It will appear that the kind of response the government has given is exceedingly wanting in substance. It is hoped however that as a grandfather and parent, Gazmin to no fault of his own was merely showing his personal concern for the safety of the life of the average citizen. He was probably very well-meaning and was admonishing the people not to bring their television sets, beds, furniture, cash safety vaults, washing machines, cabinets, sofa, stoves with their fuel gas tanks, desk-stand-ceiling fans, air conditioners, desktop computers and refrigerators outside of their homes and instead to proceed to a more safe location and be saved in time of major catastrophe.

The head of the Philvolcs, Dr. Renato Solidum absolutely cannot be faulted and is blameless. For decades, had been ready to accept the support for equipment upgrade and modernization. Despite the billions of funds allocated to the departments of the government, the great oversight of perpetually forgetting to take care of the Philvolcs modernization programme has consistently been committed by this government.

Despite the billions lost for the personal enrichment of selected persons in our public sector and their intimate partners in very enterprising undertakings in the private sector, no one has shown keen interest in allowing the Philvolcs to finally get hold of the adequate funding for acquisition of hardware and software that will highly increase its forecasting accuracy and its earthquake trending studies and research on the major faults all over the country. Click here for more.

The Unlikely Emblem

by Rizhelle Q

Imagine those floods higher than one’s roof. Everything submerged under water. I was there on those difficult rescue missions. The cold, the dread of leptospirosis, malaria, cholera, amoebiasis or whatever disease you can conjure up that was supposed to come from being in the dirty flood water. After the floods receded, my patrol team passed by an empty poor man’s devastated little nipa hut. From the hut hang an old tattered pair of dirty underwear clinging hopelessly to a plastic cord. The country right now is no better than that ravaged little nipa hut.

We have a leadership that keeps insisting it is right in washing its dirty linen in public with absolutely no shame. A young would be poet wrote, “the Hand of God is unseeable; it is not fit to be seen by the untrained eye. But it put a forlorn woman with neck braces and a serious illness under arrest. And it brought to life a boy with mental illness and that insane kid became the President.  OMG that Hand of God!”

Today the Philippine Airlines is not flying its passengers. In September it cancelled all flights, local and international. The workers say they have had it and enough is enough, they paralyzed the airline by going on a work-stoppage strike and even imprisoning passengers inside immobilized aircraft.

Not to allow the public to get their ride is bad enough, but the workers had to illegally detain some of them inside the planes. That is really too gross for me. Then at the end of October they put up a camp at the PAL kitchen and kept barring the airline’s catering trucks from traveling.

They stopped flights, imprisoned passengers inside the PAL jets, now they want the passengers not to eat. Next they might start poisoning the riders or placing bombs in the aircrafts. Now they’re complaining that the companies to which PAL outsources its operations are illegal. Hmmph!!! Dirty underwear flagging.

Again I am amazed at how these people operate. Their union bosses tell the public that it is okay to persecute one person, such a former president, at least that woman in neck braces is not 99% of the Filipino people. Are we really such hopeless idiots to be fed that kind of drivel? Or are the union bosses trying to make deals with the people walking in the corridors of power so they’ll get a good bargain with the owners of PAL?  Huh!

A nation that hangs dirty panties and carsones out in the open, the leaders blaming everyone else for their inadequacies and brainlessness, including simple you and me, is truly on the verge of a massive heart attack, loss of feeling or sensation and subsequent deterioration into madness then collapse.

Even foreigners now are talking of the Bonifacio Spring. You wonder how much longer it will take before the earthshaking events wake us all from slumber.