TYPHOON “Julian” continued to gain strength yesterday as it started to move out the of Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Julian is forecast to be out of PAR on Thursday.

Intense to torrential rains may persist in Batanes, Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte and heavy to intense rains in mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Apayao, Benguet and until today, PAGASA said

Initial information from the Cagayan provincial disaster risk reduction and management council said several areas in the province were flooded.

Over 200 families have been displaced in the towns of Sta Praxedes, Gattaran, Calayan, Pamplona, Gonzaga, Sta Ana, and Baggao.

Power interruptions were reported in some areas in the province.

In a bulletin issued at 5 p.m., PAGASA said Batanes remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 while Signal No. 3 was up at the northern and western portions of Babuyan Islands.

Under Signal No. 2 were the northern and western portions of mainland Cagayan (including rest of Babuyan Island), Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Ilocos Norte, and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur.

Under Signal No. 1 were the rest of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, rest of mainland Cagayan, and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija.

As of 4 p.. yesterday, Julian was some 95 km west southwest of Itbayat, Batanes.

It was moving west northwest at 15 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph and gustiness of up to 215 kph.

“Julian is now moving away from Batanes towards the northeastern boundary of the Philippine area of responsibility,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA said Julian was forecast to move generally westward to northwestward while decelerating over the Bashi Channel until today, then recurve while moving slowly.

Julian will then turn generally northeastward on Wednesday towards the southeastern coast of Taiwan, where it was forecast to make landfall later that day.

It said Julian will exit PAR on Wednesday but will later re-enter.

“The typhoon will then cross the rugged terrain of Taiwan and emerge over the waters east of Taiwan by Wednesday evening or Thursday early morning,” PAGASA said.

“Afterwards, the typhoon will gradually accelerate northeastward towards the East China Sea and exit the PAR region on Thursday,” said PAGASA.

PAGASA said Julian will continue to intensify and may still reach the super typhoon category.

“Interaction with the rugged terrain of Taiwan will trigger a weakening trend prior to landfall (in Taiwan),” said PAGASA.

ASSISTANCE

President Marcos Jr. said government is ready to extend assistance especially to those within the path of Julian.

The President said the government is closely monitoring the typhoon’s movement and urged the public to take precautions.

“Let us all be careful. Let us continue monitoring typhoon Julian, and the government is ready to provide aid to those who are in need,” Marcos said in Filipino during a speech before farmers in Paniqui, Tarlac.

In another event in Capas in Tarlac, the President said concerned government agencies are constantly working to ensure the safety of typhoon-hit residents.

“Thousands of family food packs are now being prepared, healthcare centers are on high alert, and our farmers and fisherfolk are taking steps to safeguard their livelihoods,” Marcos said.

He said the government continues to monitor the situation to determine what is still needed.

Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development- Disaster Response Operations Management, Information and Communication (DSWD-DROMIC) showed that 226 families or 731 persons were displaced in Cagayan Valley due to Julian.

This includes the 49 families or 155 persons currently taking shelter in 12 evacuation centers and 177 families or 576 persons who are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.

A total of 349 families or 1,110 persons from 29 barangays in Region II are affected by Julian.

DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokeswoman Irene Dumlao said the agency maintains more than P804.6 million worth of stockpile and standby funds.

SUSPENDED OPERATIONS

Several courts in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Batanes and Cagayan suspended operations Monday due to Julian.

The Supreme Court said all courts in the cities of Vigan and Candon, Tagudin and Branch 24 of the Cabugao Regional Trial Court (RTC), Metropolitan Trial Court of Sinait and Municipal Circuit Trial Court in San Juan-Magsingal, all in Ilocos Sur have suspended work because of inclement weather.

Courts in the island province of Batanes have also suspended work, as well as the RTC and all first-level courts in Aparri, Cagayan.

Aside from courts, classes were also suspended Monday in Ilocos Norte (elementary and secondary, public and private), as well as in Ilocos Sur and La Union.

Schools also suspended classes in Batac and Laoag cities.

In Pangasinan, local officials and education authorities also suspended classes in all levels, public and private, including in the cities of Dagupan, Urdaneta, San Fabian and Calasiao.

In Batanes, classes at all levels were suspended yesterday and today, October 1.

In Cagayan, classes were suspended in the municipalities of Alcala, Abulug, Allacapan, Amulong, Aparri, Baggao, Calayan, Enrile, Gattaran, Iguig, Lal-lo, Penablanca, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Santa Praxedes, Sto. Nino, Tuao and Tuguegarao City.

Authorities also suspended classes in Abra, Apayao, and Benguet, including in the cities of Baguio and La Trinidad.

Public and private schools in the province of Aurora also suspended classes as well as in the town of Paniqui in Tarlac.

AIRPORTS

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said airport operations in Northern Luzon under its control have been affected by moderate to heavy rainfall.

The Visual Flight Rules (VFR) at Laoag International Airport have been suspended after heavy rains, which caused the cancellation of Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR2196/PR2197 from Manila to Laoag and back to Manila.

CAAP said Lingayen Airport has experienced moderate to heavy rains leading to the suspension of flight activities.

Baguio Airport also experienced moderate to strong winds. Its operations are suspended.

San Fernando Airport’s VFR operations were suspended, while Vigan Airport operations suspended. Basco Airport, which is under signal number 4, has closed its operations.

Tuguegarao Airport was under signal number 2. There are no scheduled commercial or general aviation flights.

Flights at Cauayan and Palanan Airports have been cancelled due to signal number 1 being raised. – With Jocelyn Montemayor, Ashzel Hachero and Osias Osorio