Cebu readies as “Lawin” enters PAR

CEBU, Philippines - Another weather disturbance is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility today, Monday.

Over the weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) spotted tropical storm "Lawin" (international name "Haima") off the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

PAGASA-Visayas weather specialist Jhomer Eclarino said "Lawin" was spotted 1,535 kilometers East of Visayas as of last night.

Cebu will experience sunny skies this morning but can expect scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms by afternoon until evening.

Preparations

While there is no indication just yet that "Lawin" will affect Cebu City directly, Nagiel Bañacia, head of the city's Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said it doesn't hurt to prepare.

"What is important is we must now remind the Cebuanos what to do before the typhoon. Murag bag… let us put into our minds and system preparations. Ato na daan i-simulate ba, just in case the typhoon will hit our city," he said.

"Number one, store adequate supply of food and clean water. Number two, prepare foods that need not be cooked… kana bitaw'ng canned goods. Third, we must keep flashlights, candles, battery lights, and radio. Radio is important for monitoring weather forecast," he said.

Also, he said those who live in high-risk areas or urban poor communities must repair what needs to be fixed in their houses and strengthen foundations. 

Farmers, too, need to identify places that can house their animals and for fishermen to identify areas where they can anchor their boats safely.

"It is important for the farmers to start stimulating where and how to secure domesticated animals," Bañacia said.

He said the disaster councils in the barangays must review their disaster plan, specifically possible evacuation areas.

Province ready

Meanwhile, Julius Regner, spokesperson of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said barangay and municipal disaster action response teams have already been activated Friday last week.

Regner said they have been monitoring areas vulnerable to landslide, flooding, and storm surge.

He said they have also warned those living in high risk areas such as riverbanks and seashores to be vigilant.

"Padayon ang atong monitoring bisan layo ra ta. Di ta magkompyansa kay makasinati gihapon ta og paguwan-uwan ug dagkong bawod," he said.

PDRRMO has directed its local counterparts to focus on preventive or forced evacuation and be ready for emergency response in case situations will worsen.

He said the province have already pre-positioned all communication, medical and disaster equipment, as well manpower.

Regner said they will be discussing today the communication network of LGUs particularly those barangays and sitios located in far-flung areas.

They would check and conduct inventory to see if LGUs have satellite phones, which are vital in case main communication lines fail.

The provincial government has partnered with the Federation of Volunteers through Radio Communications, Inc. and National Telecommunications Commission for the contingency plans on communication.

Karen out

"Lawin" was spotted just as typhoon "Karen" was pummeling Luzon and was leaving the country. 

In fact, "Karen" caused air and sea trips cancelled with at least 2,000 passengers stranded in various ports in Cebu as at least 13 vessels were not allowed to travel.

Commander Agapito Bibat, station commander of the Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu Station, said the trips that had to be cancelled were those for Manila, Baybay, Hilongos, Masbate and Tagbilaran.

Other trips within Cebu were also cancelled, including those from Hagnaya Port in San Remigio to Sta. Fe in Bantayan Island.

Manila-bound flights, too, had to be cancelled yesterday, confirmed Malou Mozo, corporate communications junior manager of the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

She said some regional flights also experienced delay, including those from Cebu to Bacolod, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro and Pagadian. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Odessa O. Leyson and Kristine B. Quintas (FREEMAN)