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Thursday, November 30, 2006
Super typhoon heads for Bicol, Metro Manila
MANILA -- Malacañang on Wednesday suspended classes at all levels in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in preparation for the onslaught of Typhoon Reming (international codename: Durian) in the Bicol Region, Central Luzon, and National Capital Region (NCR).
As of 7:30 p.m., classes in all levels were suspended in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines provinces, and Polillo islands.
With sustained winds of 190 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 225 kph, the cyclone has become a super typhoon, said chief weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz.
Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr., also officer-in-charge of the weather bureau, said Reming, which has a diameter of 400 kilometers, is stronger than "Milenyo", which hit Metro Manila last September, because it packs a lot of rains.
It will be the first time in the country's history that three super typhoons hit it in a year.
Classes in elementary and high school were also suspended in Sorsogon, Burias island, Aurora, and parts of Quezon and Northern Samar.
Yumul said if Reming's path does not change, the typhoon will hit land in the middle of Aurora and Quezon Thursday night, cross Central Luzon, and leave through Pangasinan on Friday. He said damage and accidents are likely to occur once a typhoon hits land at night.
A television report on Wednesday night said Reming will make landfall in Bicol Region, cross Southern Luzon, and NCR. Its eye is expected to pass south of Metro Manila.
But Yumol said the forecast of the country's weather specialists that Metro Manila may be directly hit has been validated by their counterparts in Hawaii, Hong Kong, and Japan.
The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Councils (PDCCs) have been warned about the possible dangers that Reming might bring such as floods, landslides, flashfloods, and storm surges.
Those living near dams have also been warned of possible flooding if the dams are opened to prevent them from bursting.
Anthony Golez, deputy chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), said there are dams that have never been opened in 20 years such as the Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija and that people living nearby are not used to floods.
Yumul said authorities are praying that Reming's rains will raise the water level in the Angat Dam to ensure that there is enough water for irrigation in Bulacan and for consumption of households in Metro Manila.
Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. directed regional heads in Region 3, National Capital Region (NCR), and Region 2 to immediately implement contingency measures with the approach of Reming, which may hit those areas.
"Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past and be more prepared this time," Ebdane said.
"We are especially advising billboard owners to fold their advertisements for the meantime, and if possible, keep it that way until such time that they comply with the safety requirements of the government," he said.
Some billboard owners in Pasay and Makati have voluntarily folded their billboards.
Ebdane said they have mobilized field engineers in the regions that will be affected by the typhoon, deployed heavy equipment in landslide-prone areas and dump trucks and other vehicles in areas severely affected by flooding, and coordinated with local disaster coordinating centers.
He advised residents along the path of the typhoon to trim down the branches of big trees to minimize resistance to strong winds and prevent accidents, store enough food, and secure the roof of their houses.
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), for its part, assured the public that it is prepared for contingencies with the approach of the super typhoon.
"We are expecting a typhoon that may pose hazards on lives and properties. Rest assured though that we at Meralco are doing everything within our capacity to prepare our systems and people so we could immediately respond to power outages that may result from the typhoon. As a 24-hour service company we are committed to respond to the types of emergency," said Meralco vice president for corporate communications Elpi Cuna.
Cuna advised the public to tune in to radio stations in cases of power interruptions occur since Meralco's call center directly coordinates with them. (JMR/MSN/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (November 30, 2006 issue)
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