Paolo intensifies, Signal No. 1 up in Catanduanes

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Paolo slightly intensified yesterday as it continued to move over the Philippine Sea.

Heavy rains and strong winds are expected in the coming days.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Paolo’s center was estimated at 665 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Tropical cyclone wind Signal No. 1 was raised over the northern portion of Catanduanes, covering the towns of Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban and Viga.

Areas under Signal No. 1 may face minimal to minor threats to life and property.

Paolo may make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora tomorrow and reach severe tropical storm category.

The cyclone will exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday.

From Friday to Saturday, heavy rains are likely to persist over Ilocos Sur and La Union, with moderate to heavy rains extending to Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Abra, Mountain Province, Benguet, Kalinga, Pangasinan and Ifugao.

Local chief executives should coordinate with regional disaster risk reduction and management councils to carry out measures, such as preemptive cleanup operations, declogging drainage systems, pruning trees and prepositioning garbage trucks and response personnel, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said yesterday.

Validating deaths

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is helping LGUs validate casualties following the recent onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Opong.

“Our operations are still ongoing in the hardest-hit areas, particularly where there are still reports of missing people,” PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

As of Tuesday, the death toll was at 27, while 14 people in Bicol, Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas remain missing.

Marcos Jr. in Masbate

President Marcos yesterday visited Masbate to check on the condition of residents affected by Opong.

Marcos went to Masbate Provincial Hospital to inspect facilities damaged by the typhoon.

The President said he instructed the Department of Budget and Management to release P100 million to the provincial government of Masbate.

The Department of Health also provided P3 million for the repair of the hospital’s facilities.

About P28 million has been released by the Department of Labor and Employment for livelihood aid and beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged Workers program. –  Emmanuel Tupas, Helen Flores