READY, WILLING AND ABLE
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured the Filipino people on Thursday of a whole-of-government approach to ensure the safety of residents in areas affected by “Leon,” which has weakened to a typhoon category.
“I assure the Filipino people that the government is ably handling all disaster management efforts. We remain in full control. Our resources and personnel may be stretched due to the impact of typhoons on multiple fronts,” President Marcos said in a statement.
Despite this, President Marcos emphasized that the government has sufficient assets to mitigate the worst impact, recover from the wreckage, “and rebuild stronger than before.”
In its latest bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Typhoon Leon has weakened as it passes near Orchid Island in Southern Taiwan.
President Marcos said that relief and recovery efforts are ongoing in areas affected by Typhoon Kristine, with preparations ramping up for typhoon Leon.
“All agencies and instrumentalities of the government remain in full alert, and remain ready to deploy aid wherever it may be needed,” President Marcos said.
Before this, President Marcos has directed national and local government agencies to closely monitor the movement of typhoon Leon to ensure the safety of the residents in the affected areas.
‘LEON’ LEAVES PH
Leon has weakened into a severe tropical storm and has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) but rains will continue over some parts of Luzon on All Saints’ Day.
Benison Estareja, weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said in t Leon exited the PAR at 1:30 a.m. Friday.
Leon was last spotted at 550 km. north northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 km. per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 140 kph. It is moving northwest at 20 km. per hour.
All tropical cyclone warning signals have been lifted.
However, Estareja said the trough of Leon will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the western section of Luzon, particularly in the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Palawan and Occidental Mindoro.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, the wind flow towards Leon’s circulation will bring strong to gale-force winds over Batanes, Babuyan Island, northeastern mainland Cagayan, and the eastern portion of Isabela.
Estareja also said improved weather conditions throughout the country are expected on Saturday. PCO, PNA
