Catanduanes severely affected by typhoon: OCD
STRONG winds from typhoon “Pepito” damaged houses, schools and other structures and toppled electric posts in Catanduanes where it first made landfall, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said yesterday.
The first landfall was in Panganiban town, at 9:40 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). The second was in Dipaculao town in Aurora at 3:20 p.m. yesterday.
Pepito weakened into a typhoon, PAGASA said in a bulletin issued at 8 last night.
Pepito is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this morning or noon.
Malacañang, meanwhile, said it is letting local government units decide on whether to cancel classes or suspend work in their areas of jurisdiction.
Pepito, as or 7 p.m. yesterday, was in the vicinity of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya. It was moving west northwestward at 25 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kph and gustiness of up to 275 kph.
At least 45 areas were under storm signal warnings, based on PAGASA’s bulletin issued at 8 p.m. yesterday. Metro Manila was under Signal No. 2.
OCD administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said Catanduanes was “severely affected” by Pepito.
“The rain was not that intense but the wind was really strong … Many houses, schools and commercial establishments were damaged,” he said.
“It was really so strong that electric posts were toppled, causing power interruption,” said Nepomuceno, also executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
He said storm surges were reported in Catanduanes and in other provinces in the Bicol region. Fortunately, he said, people living along coastlines evacuated, sparing them from possible harm.
“Catanduanes was really directly hit (by the onslaught of Pepito),” said Nepomuceno.
He said there were no significant damage reported in other provinces in the Bicol region.
He also said Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Chua is appealing for materials needed to repair houses, schools and other establishments, including hammers, nails, saws, and galvanized iron sheets.
OCD deputy administrator for operations Cesar Idio said Catanduanes is also in need of additional food packs.
“Catanduanes was reportedly severely affected … The information that we got is that Catanduanes needs shelter materials, family food packs and their electricity restored,” he said.
“Gov. Cua mentioned that their existing food packs in his province will last for only two days,” Idio also said, adding that the social welfare department is due to transport 10,000 family food packs to Catanduanes, from Cebu, once the weather condition improves.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said that as of yesterday, it has over P2.295 billion worth of funds (P196.9 million) and food and non-food relief items (P2 billion) on standby.
The agency still has P150.35 million in quick reaction fund at its central office as well as 39,213 family food packs at its disaster response center that are ready to be distributed.
At least P34.15 million worth of food and other relief items such as hygiene, sleeping and kitchen kits have been distributed in the areas affected by Pepito and other tropical cyclones that recently hit seven regions — Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Cordillera Administrative Region.
Bicol police director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said the PNP is preparing to help in the distribution of relief goods.
He said national roads are passable to vehicles.
“So far, there is no typhoon-related casualty that was reported to us as of now,” he said.
Dizon also said some police stations in the province sustained “major damage.”
EVACUATION
Nepomuceno said that as of yesterday afternoon, no person was reported killed or injured due to Pepito.
He said preemptive evacuation of people leaving in flood- and landslide-prone areas was one of the important aspects of their preparations.
“We asked them to evacuate and if needed force them to evacuate,” said Nepomuceno.
He said 361,079 families or 1.24 million individuals were preemptively evacuated in seven regions — Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol — and in Eastern Samar province.
The OCD-Bicol said 98,928 families or 431,708 individuals are staying at 2,393 evacuation centers in the region. It said 64,373 families or 233,144 individuals are outside evacuation centers, living with their relatives or friends.
Asked if there is a need to declare entire Luzon under state of calamity, Nepomuceno said they still need to conduct further assessment on Pepito’s effects.
Communications Assistant Secretary Joey Villarama said local government units responded and started evacuations on Saturday night, and made sure evacuation centers are far from possible storm surges and safe from flooding and even landslides.
Villarama said government agencies have also prepositioned enough family and non-food relief items.
In Manila, Mayor Honey Lacuna o ordered “pre-emptive evacuation” of residents living in areas near the Manila Bay and esteros including Baseco, Parola 1 and 3, Isla Puting Bato, and Barangay 101, 105, 128 and 598.
The residents were temporarily housed at the Benigno Aquino Elementary School, Corazon Aquino Elementary School, Herminigildo Atienza Elementary School, Rosauro Almario Elementary School, Pedro Guevarra Elementary School and Delpan Evacuation Center.
“Zero casualty is our goal during and after typhoon Pepito. Including after because of the deadly threat of leptospirosis, dengue, and other water-borne diseases,” Lacuna said.
In Makati, Mayor Abigail Binay also ordered the prepositioning of equipment in evacuation centers in Barangays Palanan, Pio Del Pilar, Olympia, San Antonio and Bangkal in preparation for typhoon Pepito.
The distribution of Christmas gifts to senior citizens in Makati today was cancelled.
In Muntinlupa City, Mayor Ruffy Biazon also inspected evacuation centers in the city as well as the city government’s operation center. He said the city government is ready to respond.
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto Rubiano also said the city government is prepared for Pepito, adding residents in need of assistance or emergency response only need to call the Pasay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management office at 88872729.
SIGNALS
PAGASA, in its 8 p.m. bulletin, said nine areas were under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4. These are the central portion of Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, southern portion of Ifugao, Benguet, southern portion of Ilocos Sur, La Union, northern and eastern portions of Pangasinan, and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija.
Ten other areas were under Signal No. 3 — southern portion of Isabela, rest of Ifugao, Mountain Province, southern portion of Kalinga, southern portion of Abra, rest of Ilocos Sur, rest of Pangasinan, northern and eastern portions of Tarlac, rest of Nueva Ecija, and rest of Aurora.
Fifteen areas were under Signal No. 2 — rest of Isabela, southern portion of mainland Cagayan, rest of Kalinga, southern portion of Apayao, rest of Abra, Ilocos Norte, Zambales, rest of Tarlac, rest of Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal. northeastern portion of Laguna, and the northern portion of Quezon (including Babuyan Islands).
Nine areas were under Signal No. 1 — rest of mainland Cagayan, rest of Apayao, rest of Bataan, Cavite, rest of Laguna, Batangas, central portion of Quezon, Lubang Islands, and the western portion of Camarines Norte.
PUMPING STATIONS
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Romando Artes said all of the 71 major and minor pumping stations in Metro Manila are fully operational.
Artes and other MMDA officials conducted an inspection yesterday as part of preparations for Pepito.
Artes said emergency response equipment have been prepositioned, including two aluminum boats, four rubber boats, about 5,000 life vests, solar-powered water purifiers, clearing equipment like chain saw and rotary saw and modular tents).
Artes said they have also prepositioned ambulances, tow trucks, rapid response vehicles and trucks, if needed.
He said their preparation was assisted by the agency’s Geospatial Portal for Data Collection and Upgrading and Sharing using ArcGIS software used to plot and locate incident reports and assets to provide information and improve the agency’s situational awareness.
ArcGIS is a software that creates maps, performs spatial analysis, and manages data and geographic information to allow decision-makers to come up with intelligent and informed decisions.
The MMDA is not the only beneficiary of the data and information collected using the said software but also the 17 local government units in Metro Manila.
POWER
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said as of 1 p.m. yesterday, operations have been restored at three transmission lines in Bicol — Naga-Lagonoy 69 kilovolt(kV)- Line which affected Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative (CASURECO) IV, CASURECO II; the Naga-Iriga 69kV Line covering CASURECO III and Tiwi C-Pawa 69kV Line that affected Albay Electric Cooperative.
NGCP said areas may still be affected by localized disturbances which are better addressed by the distribution utilities.
Specific cities and municipalities affected by the unavailable transmission facility are determined by concerned distribution utilities, unless the outage affects the entire franchise area.
STRANDED
THE Philippine Coast Guard said 3,541 passengers, truck drivers, truck drivers and cargo helpers were stranded at various ports in Luzon and Visayas as sea travel were suspended due to Pepito.
Also stranded were 1,484 rolling cargoes, 15 vessels and motor bancas.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said 66 ports in the country suspended operations yesterday.
These are the Port Management Office (PMO) of Bataan/Aurora, PMO NCR North and South, Batangas, Mindoro, MarQuez (Marinduque/Quezon), Bicol, Masbate and Eastern Leyte.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has placed the PNP units under high alert.
The PNP has deployed nearly 5,000 policemen with 8,000 others on standby, ready to assist those who will be affected by Pepito.
Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said military units along the path of Pepito are on red alert.
“Our personnel are ready, our search and rescue teams are there. Our civilian auxiliary and our reservists are also there, actively preparing to provide assistance,” she said. — With Jocelyn Montemayor, Ashzel Hachero, Myla Iglesias, Irma Isip, Jed Macapagal and Osias Osorio