BRACING FOR TYPHOONS
THE government is on a 10-day alert for the impact of Typhoon Nika (international name Toraji) and two more tropical cyclones expected to hit the country this week, Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said.
“You can see the scenario: between Nov. 11 and 17, we will have three typhoons entering the Philippines, all on the same path,” Remulla said yesterday. “So, between Marce and Pepito, that means four typhoons in 10 days, following the same trajectory.”
Once the two tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility, these will be named Ofel and Pepito.
Remulla, who is also the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) vice chair, assured the public that all systems are in place.
Nika has made landfall at past 8 a.m. yesterday in the vicinity of Dilasag, Aurora.
Remulla said 2,500 barangays in Nika’s direct path — Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valle, and the Cordillera Administrative Region — have been advised to preemptively evacuate, even as government units are on standby.
“We have advised all the governors involved in the 2,500 barangays to be evacuated, especially those prone to floods and landslides,” Remulla said in a media briefing late Sunday.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has prepositioned food packs and response facilities.
“The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) has identified the barangays most prone to landslides and floods, and the response should be immediate,” Remulla said.
He warned that the likelihood of landslides is “very high and imminent” in the mountains of Regions 1 (Ilocos Norte), 2 (Cagayan Valley), and the Cordillera Administrative Region due to ground saturation from successive typhoons impacting these areas.
Meanwhile, Remulla also lauded members of search, rescue, and relief teams deployed amid the recent series of tropical cyclones.
“As far as I’m concerned, they are heroes already because of what they have been doing in the last month,” he added. “We must give them commendation and possible rewards and supplemental income for them.”
AFP ON ALERT
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said that it has disaster response units to ensure swift and coordinated assistance.
“These units, which include personnel and equipment specialized in search, rescue, and relief operations, are strategically positioned in high-risk areas to provide immediate support to communities affected by the typhoon,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.
The AFP is monitoring the situation with local government units and the NDRRMC to assess needs on the ground, deploy necessary resources, and keep the public informed on safety protocols.
“Our commitment remains steadfast in safeguarding and assisting our countrymen, especially in times of disaster. We urge everyone to stay vigilant and follow advisories from authorities to ensure safety,” Padilla added.
SIGNAL 4 UP IN N. LUZON
“Nika” has intensified into a typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, the weather bureau said in its 5 a.m. bulletin yesterday.
The typhoon was tracked at 100 km. east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora as of 4 a.m.
Tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 4 is hoisted over the northernmost portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran), the central and southern portions of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Jones, Echague, Ramon, San Isidro, City of Santiago, Cordon, Roxas, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, Gamu, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Cabatuan, Alicia, Luna, City of Cauayan, Angadanan, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Ilagan City, Delfin Albano, San Agustin), the southeastern portion of Abra (Tubo, Boliney, Daguioman, Bucloc, Malibcong), the central and eastern portions of Mountain Province (Sadanga, Bontoc, Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis), the eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista), and the western and southern portions of Kalinga (Tanudan, Tinglayan, Pasil, Lubuagan, Balbalan, City of Tabuk). Typhoon-force winds will prevail in these areas.
Storm-force winds will be experienced in areas under TCWS no. 3: the northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan), the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio, Bayombong), the northern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Maddela), the rest of Isabela, the southwestern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal, Piat), the rest of Abra, the southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao), the rest of Kalinga, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Buguias, Mankayan, Bakun), the southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Laoag City, Sarrat, San Nicolas, Piddig, Marcos, Nueva Era, Dingras, Bacarra, Solsona, Paoay, Currimao, Pinili, Badoc, City of Batac, Banna), and Ilocos Sur.
Gale-force winds are expected in areas where TCWS no. 2 is hoisted: the central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Quirino, the northwestern and eastern portions of Cagayan (Iguig, Peñablanca, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Gattaran, Lasam, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Lal-Lo, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga), the rest of Apayao, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, La Union, the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug), and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City).
Strong winds will prevail in areas under TCWS no. 1: rest of Aurora, the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso), Metro Manila, Rizal, the eastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Cavinti, Lumban, Luisiana, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Pila, Victoria), the northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Calauag, Infanta, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, Perez, Real, General Nakar, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan) including Pollilo Islands, Camarines Norte, and the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Garchitorena, Lagonoy).
DSWD PRESSES DISASTER WORK, RESPONDING TO NIKA
The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Field Offices (DSWD-FOs) will continue their disaster operations for the families and individuals affected by Typhoon Marce while also preparing their response efforts for Severe Tropical Storm Nika.
“To ensure immediate delivery of relief aid particularly to our affected kababayans in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), we are continuously tapping our regional warehouses to dispatch relief resources and support regional relief operations at the earliest time possible,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in a news release on Sunday.
Dumlao, assistant secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), said the DSWD Field Office CAR’s warehouse in the town of La Trinidad in Benguet province has been dispatching relief supplies non-stop to support the relief efforts in the Cagayan Valley region.
“Earlier this morning, we dispatched 6,145 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) from the DSWD FO-CAR’s warehouse bound for Cagayan Valley. These are intended to replenish the supplies of our relief resources in Region 2, and for immediate distribution to Marce-affected families in the area,” she said.
She said the warehouse in La Trinidad town, Benguet can house up to 45,000 FFPs and non-food items (NFIs), allowing the storage facility to dispense relief resources to other FOs while sustaining the demand for relief operations in the province.
The DSWD, she said, was able to extend 1,500 FFPs to Marce-hit families in the province of Cagayan during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s aid distribution held in Buguey town.
In a similar aid-giving held in Pagudpud town in Ilocos Norte, around 1,067 boxes of FFPs from the DSWD were distributed to disaster-hit residents.
Amid the continuing disaster operations for Marce, Dumlao said the agency has started rolling out its initial relief response for Nika on Saturday night.
“Our Field Office in the Bicol Region, together with the provincial local government of Catanduanes, distributed hot meals to 54 stranded passengers in Tabaco Port as soon as sea travel was suspended due to inclement weather brought about by Nika,” she said.
She said the agency and its FOs are on alert to extend immediate relief augmentation to local government units (LGUs) along the forecast track of Nika, which includes the areas battered by the series of storms that recently hit the country.
NIKA PROMPTS EVACUATION ORDER
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Sunday ordered all local government units threatened by Severe Tropical Storm Nika to implement mandatory evacuation.
He particularly called on LGUs in Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley) and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to evacuate residents from 2,500 barangays who are living in flood and landslide-prone areas.
The weather bureau has predicted that Nika may develop into a typhoon on Sunday as it may reach its peak intensity before landfall over Isabela or Aurora on Monday morning or early afternoon.
It will continue moving west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday afternoon or evening.
“We notified all the governors and mayors to advise all 2,500 barangays that will be affected and where landslides might occur. We advised them to implement mandatory evacuation starting tonight,” Remulla said during a briefing in Camp Aguinaldo.
“We have 16 hours to respond (and) to evacuate. We are prepared on the ground as far as national agencies and first responders are concerned.”
He urged the public to cooperate for their safety.
“But it’s a matter of cooperation ng mga population natin na pag sinabing evacuation seryosohin natin ito dahil ayaw nating mangyari yung nangyari sa Batangas,” the DILG chief added.
Asked what to do with residents who do not want to leave their properties despite the call for mandatory evacuation from the government, Remulla said they would do everything to convince them for their safety.
Meanwhile, Remulla reported that five roads in CAR are now impassable and personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been deployed to conduct clearing operations.
The DSWD, on the other hand, has prepared food and non-food supplies to be distributed among affected residents.
Sea travel has been suspended from Bicol region up to Batanes and Babuyan Islands, he added.
“Nakahanda na rin ang air assets natin, sea travel is suspended along the eastern seaboard from the Bicol region up to Batanes to Babuyan Islands wala tayong seacraft na dadaan dun,” he said.
Remulla also said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued a directive regarding the gradual release of water from six dams.
Office of Civil Defense Director Agnes Palacio, meanwhile, said affected regions in Nika’s projected path should have available data and resources for swift preparedness planning.
Palacio also advised communities in high-risk areas to increase public awareness, directing local authorities to convert critical information into actionable plans. Philippine News Agency
