PRE-EMPTIVE evacuation will begin late Thursday or Friday in vulnerable areas after potential super-typhoon “Ompong” barreled into Philippine territory on Wednesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
“We should start by Friday or even the later part of Thursday because as it approaches, the rain continues to intensify,” Ricardo Jalad, the council’s executive director, told reporters in a news conference at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
On Wednesday afternoon, Ompong (international name: “Mangkhut”) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) with maximum speed of 220 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 270 kph.
Ompong could not be categorized as a super-typhoon yet, but has the potential to become one. The super- typhoon category is at 225 kph, said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Chief Vicente Malano.
The typhoon is expected to make landfall by early Saturday either in Sta. Ana, Cagayan or Batanes.
Jalad said affected regions would include Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, the Cordillera Administrative Region, the Ilocos Region, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.
Metro Manila will not be directly hit by the typhoon but could be hit my monsoon rains induced by the typhoon.
Jalad reminded the public to prepare for strong winds that could topple houses, heavy rains that could result in flooding, storm surges, and landslides in mountainous areas.
“The most important thing here is the early evacuation protocol that the local government units will be doing,” he said.
DILG to issue warnings
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) would be the lead agency in releasing warnings to local government units, Jalad said.
The disaster council is on red-alert status. “This is to ensure the orchestrated response of the government to address the safety and welfare of communities likely to be affected,” Jalad said.
Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde ordered all Luzon-based units to be on full-alert status effective 6 a.m. on September 13.
Albayalde also ordered all provincial, city, and municipal offices and stations to undertake road clearing operations with local government units and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to ensure access for emergency vehicles, troops, equipment, supplies and market commodities.
Albayalde said the PNP had stocked some relief goods for families that would be affected by the typhoon.
DPWH Chief Mark Villar on Wednesday said his agency had prepared for the possible onslaught of the typhoon in the north and other parts of the country by ensuring the structural integrity of vital roads, bridges and high-rise public buildings.
No direct hit on Metro Manila
Guillermo Eleazar, regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office, expects a zero-casualty record in Metro Manila, as it would not be directly hit by Ompong.
Malacañang urged the public to stay indoors. Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. assured the public that government had readied funds and relief supplies in preparation for the typhoon.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Manila archbishop, expressed concern for northern Philippines, as he urged the Archdiocese of Manila to get ready.
Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos asked the Catholic faithful to pray for protection against storms and floods, and said the public should be prepared for disaster emergencies and follow instructions from key government agencies.
Edu Gariguez, executive secretary of Church-run Caritas Philippines, said a “surge team” was getting ready for Ompong, which is expected to bring thunderstorms to parts of Luzon such as Metro Manila, Batangas, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Rizal and Bulacan.
Caritas has “pre-positioned staff and resources for possible on-ground assessment, relief procurement and distribution,” he said.
Landslide in Batanes
Bishop Danilo Ulep of Batanes, which is expected to bear the brunt of the typhoon, told Church-run Radyo Veritas he was closely in touch with the local government. “Our lay leaders are likewise ready,” Ulep said.
The DPWH advised the motoring public on Wednesday that a section of Basco-Mahatao-Ivana-Uyugan-Imnajbu Road in Batanes was temporary closed to traffic due to landslide.
The DPWH Batanes District Engineering Office deployed 11 maintenance personnel with pay loader, dump truck, and backhoe equipment to clear the road section.
Classes suspended
Local governments in Bicol, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon announced the suspension of classes because of the typhoon.
Albay suspended classes from pre-school to senior high school today. Classes in all levels were suspended in Apalit, Masantol, Mexico and Santa Rita, Pampanga; Bauang and Sudipen, La Union; Abra; Ilocos Norte; Cagayan (until Friday); Zambales (until Friday); and Ilocos Sur (until Friday).
There will be no classes in Quezon City on Friday and Saturday, Mayor Herbert Bautista announced over radio station dzMM.
WITH ROY D.R. NARRA, CATHERINE S. VALENTE, CATHERINE A. MODESTO JOVE MOYA AND WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL