LOCAL officials have been directed to effect forced evacuation of residents in hazard areas as authorities brace for the impact of “Marce” which intensified into a typhoon yesterday.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr, also chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), implied the forced evacuation will be implemented in the Cagayan Valley region which will be in Marce’s path.
“Based on historical experience, there are areas especially in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) where we conduct forced evacuation,” he said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Marce was some 480 km east of Echague in Isabela. It was moving northwestward at 25 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph and gustiness of up to 160 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Fourteen areas were under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1. These are Batanes, Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, northern portion of Benguet, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and the northern portion of Aurora.
PAGASA said Marce was forecast to move generally west northwestward until today before decelerating and turning westward, and will make landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands or the northern portion of mainland Cagayan on Thursday afternoon or evening.
PAGASA also said Marce will continue to intensify and reach its peak strength as a typhoon before making landfall in Babuyan Islands.
Marce may exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday afternoon or evening.
Marce intensified into a severe tropical storm, from tropical storm, on Monday night. It further intensified into a typhoon yesterday morning.
LANDSLIDE-PRONE AREAS
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) identified at least 2,123 barangays nationwide as prone to landslides and floods from Marce.
Based on MGB’s geohazards threat advisory issued at 11 a.m. on Monday, bulk of the number of barangays that are at risk of landslides and flooding are in Ilocos region, or 546 barangays (544 in Ilocos Norte, two in Ilocos Sur).
Other barangays at risk from Marce are also 484 in Cagayan Valley, 224 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 212 in Northern Mindanao, 145 in Zamboanga Peninsula, 121 in Cordillera Administrative Region, and 110 in Caraga.
MGB’s list also included 76 barangays in the Davao Region, 64 in Central Visayas, 63 in Soccsksargen, and 39 each in the Mimaropa and Western Visayas regions.
MGB’s advisory covered forecasts from November 4 to 9, 2024.
The asked residents to be aware of and monitor rapid increase of floodwater level from rivers as well as in areas that are low-lying and are near dams.
It added that areas previously hit by flash floods and debris flow must also be prepared.
The MGB advisory also asked mining companies to activate their emergency response and preparedness teams
Teodoro said people living in hazard areas should be evacuated, especially if these areas cannot be immediately reached by rescue teams of the Armed Forces and the PNP during emergency situations.
“The municipal mayors and disaster risk officers were required by the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) to enforce evacuation in areas that cannot be immediately reached by the police and military,” he said.
Teodoro also urged people, especially those living near rivers, to voluntarily go to evacuation centers or seek shelter in residences of people they know, and to leave roads open, saying these are vital in the delivery of relief goods and other essential assistance.
“What we are asking our countrymen to do is to allow us serve you better, and quicker and safer,” he said.
Teodoro said President Marcos Jr “is personally on the loop” when it comes to the preparations for Marce.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr said the military has placed on standby 305 search and rescue teams in northern Luzon, and has readied C-130 transport planes and Black Hawk helicopters that can used in the transport of food and non-food items.
“The Armed Forces has made a lot of preparations. We have also (prepositioned) 30 rubber boats in northern Luzon. We are ready to extend help to our countrymen,” he said.
KRISTINE, LEON
Teodoro said government will draw lessons from the past two cyclones — severe tropical storm “Kristine” and super typhoon “Leon.”
The NDRRMC said the combined effects of Kristine and Leon affected 8.84 million people in 17 regions, claimed 151 lives, and left P14.15 billion in damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
“We have learned a lot, that’s why our processes have been adjusted. Actually for me, the key learning really is to concentrate on coordination and interagency and vertical coordination which is the core of our functions,” he said.
Initial cost of damage to the agriculture sector from Kristine is at P6.20 billion as of Monday, according to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center.
The damage is equivalent to 143,065 affected farmers and fishers in 117,509 hectares (ha) of affected areas in 12 regions — Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Soccsksargen and Caraga.
About P891 million worth of humanitarian aid has been distributed to communities affected by Kristine and Leon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.
The DSWD assured the public the agency still has over P2.3 billion worth of funds (P123.8 million) and stockpiles of food and non-food items (P22.2 billion) on standby. – With Jed Macapagal and Jocelyn Montemayor
