SEVERAL areas in the Eastern Visayas and Bicol regions were placed under Signal No. 1 on Wednesday as “Ambo” intensified into a severe tropical storm from a tropical depression.
Ambo is expected to make landfall in the Bicol region Thursday night or Friday morning.
As of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the center of Ambo was some 315 km east of Borongan City in Eastern Samar. Ambo was moving west northwest at 10 kph, packing sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Under Signal No. 1 were Sorsogon, Ticao Island, Catanduanes, southern portion of Albay (Oas, Tabaco, Ligao City, Pio Duran, Guinobatan, Malilipot, Jovellar, Camalig, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Rapu-rapu, Daraga, Legazpi City, and Manito), Northern Samar, northern portion of Samar (Calbayog, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Tarangnan, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, San Sebastian, Paranas, Hinabangan), and northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpio, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, and Borongan City).
Ambo is forecast to be some 160 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar on Thursday afternoon and 20 km north northwest of Daet in Camarines Norte on Friday. It is projected to be out of the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday afternoon.
“Strong to gale force winds may begin to affect Northern Samar and northern portion of Eastern Samar and Samar tomorrow afternoon; Sorsogon, Ticao Island, Catanduanes, and southern portion of Albay on Friday morning,” PAGASA said.
Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon urged priests in the Diocese of Legazpi “to offer their churches, halls, or other safe spaces, and chapels as additional evacuation centers.”
“(This is) in view of social distancing measures, which means lesser number of families to be accommodated in the regular evacuation centers,” said Baylon.
He appealed to families to consider opening their homes to their less fortunate neighbors.
“We encourage families with safe and spacious enough homes or buildings to let in vulnerable neighbors so they won’t crowd evacuation centers,” said Baylon. –– With Gerard Naval
