June 22, 2008 6:00 am. Philippine Time

Typhoon "Frank" intensified yesterday as it changed directions and moved towards Mindoro, leaving behind at least 17 killed, scores missing and thousands stranded as air and sea flights were canceled.
The typhoon destroyed many houses, agricultural crops and livestock and also knocked down power and telecommunication lines in various areas in the Visayas.
In Eastern Samar, Gov. Benjamin Evardone said power and telecom lines were cut and damage to infrastructure facilities and farm crops was heavy. Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo told the Bulletin that large areas in Iloilo have been flooded.
Other figures of fatalities were 12 to 14.
The figures could rise as 22 persons, mostly fishermen were missing after their bancas were hit by strong waves, according to a report from Tacloban City of correspondent Nestor Abrematea.
Ten people drowned after a swollen river overflowed its banks and swept away three houses in a riverside village in South Upi, Maguindanao, provincial administrator Norie Unas said. Five others were missing.
In nearby Cotabato City, two persons died from a trash slide triggered by "Frank".
The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) identified them as Nanding Pulalon, 56, and his granddaughter Bea Pulalon. Early yesterday, the NDCC counted only two fatalities.
If the typhoon does not change its course, it may bring more rains in Metro Manila and nearby areas today, weathermen said.
President Arroyo convened the NDCC in Camp Aguinaldo at the height of the typhoon before flying to the United States for a 10- day visit.
The President presided the two-hour meeting and directed government agencies to undertake search and rescue operations, extend relief and use their calamity fund to help those displaced by the typhoon.
Following its landfall in Eastern Samar Friday afternoon, typhoon "Frank" made another landfall over Romblon province, threatening to dump rains in other areas in Southern and Central Luzon today.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) director Dr. Prisco Nilo said "Frank" made landfall over Romblon province around 2 or 3 p.m. yesterday.
He explained that when "Frank" hit Samar island, it gathered strength as it immediately traversed the coast off Samar.
This, Nilo said, was also the reason why "Frank" was able to maintain its typhoon category despite hitting land.
Tropical storms gather strength while over water but weaken when they make landfall.
Nilo said that after making its second landfall over Romblon yesterday, there is still a possibility that it may make another landfall. He, however, said it is not expected to further intensify into a supertyphoon while inside the Philippine territory.
According to the weather bureau chief, "Frank" may traverse Mindoro on its way out to the South China Sea or move to Batangas, where it may pass near Metro Manila and Central Luzon before exiting via South China Sea.
"Frank" may stay inside the Philippines until Tuesday morning if it maintains its current movement, Nilo said.
At 4 p.m. yesterday, "Frank" was located off the coast of Romblon, particularly in the vicinity of Tablas island.
"Frank" further intensified yesterday afternoon as it packed winds at 160 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 195 kph.
It was moving to the northwest at a slower pace of 11 kph.
"Frank" was expected to cross Mindoro last night and may be at 90 kms west of Calapan City or in the vicinity of Lubang island this afternoon.
By tomorrow afternoon, it may be at 190 kms westnorthwest of Iba, Zambales and then at 410 kms westnorthwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte by Tuesday afternoon.
PAGASA raised public storm warning signal no. 3 over the provinces of Romblon, Marinduque, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang island; and Calamian group of islands in Luzon and in Northern Antique, Aklan and Capiz in the Visayas yesterday afternoon.
Signal no. 2 was hoisted in Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, including Polillo island; Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, Albay, Masbate, including Burias island; Northern Palawan and Metro Manila in Luzon and the rest of Antique, Iloilo and Guimaras in the Visayas.
Signal no. 1 was up over Zambales, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Sorsogon and the rest of Palawan in Luzon and over Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor and Leyte in the Visayas.
‘Frank’ triggers blackout, displaces 150 Cebu families
CEBU CITY – Tropical cyclone "Frank" (international name: Fengshen) unleashed its fury in the northern part of Cebu Friday night, toppling down power and communication lines, and destroying houses of at least 150 families in the town of Daanbantayan.
Flood waters forced 150 families in barangay Taytay, Daanbantayan to leave their houses when "Frank" strengthened from Friday midnight to early dawn Saturday, destroying several houses and leaving the northern Cebu in a total black out, said Daanbantayan Vice Mayor Maria Luisa Loot.
The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council have not issued a report on casualties or actual damages brought about by "Frank" as heavy rain continued to dampen Cebu yesterday.
Loot said 14 barangays of her town saw the wrath of "Frank" as houses were left roofless and crops flooded. The town’s sports complex was also roofless when residents woke up Saturday morning to check on the effect of the typhoon. No casualties have been reported as of press time Saturday.
"It was a total mess. Several houses were destroyed, roofless. Several families were evacuated due to flood. At least 14 barangays were hit by Frank," said Loot. (Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.)
2 killed in Bicol, NDCC reports
Two persons were killed when heavy rains triggered by Typhoon "Frank" hit several areas in Bicol region and other provinces in Visayas and Mindanao that triggered heavy flooding and landslides, reports reaching the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) based in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City said yesterday.
President Arroyo met with government officials involved in disaster preparedness at the Department of National Defense (DND) in Camp Aguinaldo for almost two hours to give final instructions in the conduct of relief and rehabilitation operations in severely typhoon-battered areas, particularly in Regions 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 before she left for the United States.
Dr. Anthony Golez, presidential deputy spokesman, said the President directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to place on stand by all its transport assets - particularly those with airlift capabilities - to be able to quickly respond to the needs of thousands of families that were displaced by Typhoon Frank.
The Chief Executive ordered Philippine Air Force authorities to transform the Villamor Air Base as "operation center" for the relief operations with the C-130 cargo planes and UH-1H Huey helicopters on alert for possible airlifting of relief goods to affected areas.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) identified the two fatalities as Bea Pulalon, eight years old and her 56-year-old grandfather, Nanding Pulalon. The two were killed when their house was buried under heavy pile of trash in Canizares, Malagapas, Cotabato City last Friday night.
Citing field reports, Golez said the "trashslide" was triggered by continuous rains in the area.
Golez said that heavy flooding, some of them even reached roof tops of houses, was monitored in Iloilo City, prompting Malacanang to send several teams of disaster response and rehabilitation from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to the area.
Meanwhile, close to a hundred domestic flights were cancelled yesterday after airline officials found it too dangerous to fly to different parts of the country which was affected by typhoon Frank.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the airport’s Media Affairs Office had a tally of 90 domestic flights between Manila and Southern Luzon and Visayan destinations which had been cancelled.
Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Asian Spirit, Sea Air and Air Philippines flight services between Manila and Tagbilaran, Legaspi, Dumaguete, Kalibo, Bacolod, Iloilo, Roxas, Busuanga, Tablas, Caticlan, Cagayan de Oro, Naga, Ozamis and Cotabato had to temporarily cancel their flights due to the weather disturbance.
Passengers affected by the flight cancellations were asked to call their respective airline companies for the new flight schedules. (Aris Ilagan and Anjo Perez)
GMA orders relief, rescue operations
President Arroyo yesterday ordered relief and rescue operations for the victims of typhoon "Frank" before she left for the United States for a ten-day working visit.
Mrs. Arroyo convened the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and issued directives for the relief operations for the victims of the typhoon.
Mrs. Arroyo put the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) into "relief-and-rescue standby mode."
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been instructed to repair damaged infrastructure after typhoon "Frank" has left the country.
She also ordered the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to "forward-deploy resources" to areas on the typhoon’s path.
"By law, Calamity Funds have been advanced to DND, DPWH and DSWD, which means that the tools to provide care and comfort have been prepositioned in our first responders," she said at the NDCC meeting.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF), including the Presidential Airlift Wing, was ordered to fly "mercy missions" and aid in rescue and relief operations of other government agencies.
Mrs. Arroyo also instructed Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap to ensure affordable rice to areas hit hard by the typhoon, and to repair agricultural lands expected to be damaged. (David Cagahastian)