Chedeng weakens; evacuation still on

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Chedeng (international name Maysak) has weakened but 24 provinces were placed under public storm warning signals as it moved closer to the country’s northeast coast, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

Moderate to heavy rains are expected in Central and Northern Luzon, weather forecasters said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed Isabela and Aurora under public storm warning signal No. 3.

Storm warning signals No. 2 and No. 1 were hoisted over 22 other provinces.

In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said the weather system was forecast to move west-northwest at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. It packs maximum sustained winds of 115 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 145 kph.

It was located at 340 kilometers southeast of Casiguran, Aurora as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

Chedeng will make landfall over the coast of southern Isabela this morning.

“Estimated rainfall is from moderate to heavy within the 150 km radius of the tropical storm,” according to the weather bureau.

The storm was forecast to be at the vicinity of Malibcong, Abra this afternoon and at 445 km northwest of Laoag City or outside the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow afternoon.

Chedeng was earlier classified as a Category 5 storm, and was dubbed a super typhoon by the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

However, it was downgraded to typhoon category as it started to weaken due to low sea temperatures. It further weakened to tropical storm category while over the Philippine Sea yesterday.

State weather forecasters earlier said it could further weaken as it passes through the mountain ranges of Sierra Madre today.

PAGASA, however, warned residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signal against possible flash floods and landslides.

“Fishermen are advised not to venture out over the northern seaboard of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region,” it said.

Storm warning signals

The weather bureau placed Northern Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Southern Cagayan, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Viscaya, Quirino and Catanduanes under signal No. 2.

Placed under signal No. 1 were Babuyan Island, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, the rest of Quezon including Polillo Island, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

Meanwhile, Project NOAH placed four areas in Quezon province on alert for possible storm surges. These are the municipalities of Quezon, Calauag, Gumaca and Lopez.

“Those living within the vicinity of these areas should take precautionary measures against storm surges,” read the Project NOAH advisory.

Preemptive evacuation

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II yesterday called on local chief executives of towns and cities threatened by Chedeng to enforce preemptive evacuation to ensure the safety of local and foreign tourists as well as people living in low-lying areas.

“I encourage the mayors to seriously consider undertaking force evacuation for the safety of the constituents and visitors,” Roxas, who is also vice chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), said.

The NDRRMC has placed 15 areas under red alert, which calls for preemptive evacuation. These are Abra, Apayao, Aurora, Benguet, Cagayan, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Catanduanes.

Five provinces were placed under orange alert (preparation for preemptive evacuation). These are Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Quezon.

Placed under yellow alert (readiness) are the provinces of Bulacan, Masbate, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

According to weather forecasters, rainfall is expected within the 150-km radius from the center of the storm, which means that Chedeng is expected to dump moderate to heavy rains.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has alerted local officials in 24 provinces in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4-A and 5 of the potential adverse effects of the typhoon.

On Friday, the DILG issued advisories calling on local officials to implement preemptive evacuation plans. Around 20 LGUs in five provinces have implemented preemptive evacuation.

Tourists have left Baler Bay in Aurora after the local government asked them to evacuate for safety reasons.

The local government had warned that those who refuse to leave would undergo forced evacuation.

Disaster officials in Cagayan Valley have imposed a liquor ban in several coastal towns in the region as part of preparations for the typhoon.

Cagayan Office of Civil Defense director Norma Talosig said selling of liquor is banned on beaches, resorts and public places in Aparri and Gonzaga towns.

Catanduanes Gov. Cely Wong said they have requested for relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for residents to be affected by the typhoon.

Cedric Daep, executive director of the Albay Provincial Security and Emergency Management Office, said they ordered the barangay disaster risk reduction and management councils to evacuate residents in coastal areas in anticipation of storm surges.

In Isabela, Gov. Faustino Dy has ordered a no-sail policy in four coastal towns in the province.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has been activated to ensure the safety of the residents and tourists who are vacationing in the freeport.

In Baguio City, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources warned the public against flashfloods and landslides.

DOH hospitals on blue alert

All regional hospitals and offices of the Department of Health (DOH) in the path of Typhoon Chedeng have been placed on “code blue alert” to ensure immediate response to any health emergency.

Under code blue alert, 50 percent of hospital personnel should report to work to render medical services in cases of near drowning, diseases and injuries.

Placed under blue alert are the DOH hospitals in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol and Cordillera Autonomous Region.

The DOH noted that all regional Health Emergency Management-Operation Centers are open 24/7 to assist in any medical and health emergency. Their hotline numbers are 711-1001 and 711-1002.

The Philippine Red Cross has mobilized its staff and volunteers in preparation for the typhoon.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deployed rescue teams to Aurora and Isabela.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino led the send-off of the teams, including 34 rescue personnel from the 17 LGUs in Metro Manila.

The rescue teams will stay in Isabela and Aurora for three days, Tolentino said.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, meanwhile, alerted the city’s risk reduction coordinating council in anticipation of the typhoon.

Gov’t partners with Smart, PLDT

DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said the Response Cluster under the NDRRMC has partnered with Smart and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) in providing emergency telecommunications support in areas to be hit by Chedeng.

Soliman said PLDT and Smart provided five landlines, two mobile phones, one wireless router and three pocket Wi-Fi connections at the NDRRMC’s operations center at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. The two companies have also committed to provide communications van ready to be deployed to affected areas.

Soliman said there is a need to provide high frequency radio equipment in hard-to-reach areas like Maconacon in Isabela and Divilacan, Dilasag and Dilapigue in Aurora.

Stranded passengers

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday reported that the number of stranded passengers in Southern Tagalog and Bicol region has reached 579.

 – With Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude, Celso Amo, Raymund Catindig, Ric Sapnu, Artemio Dumlao, Sheila Crisostomo, Pia Lee Brago, Evelyn Macairan, Jose Rodel Clapano