PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the government's preparedness to respond to the effects of Typhoon Egay (Doksuri).
In a statement, Marcos, who is currently in an official trip in Malaysia, said concerned government agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), have already deployed their respective rescue teams to assist families who will be affected by flooding and other typhoon-induced incidents.
He said over P173 million in standby funds along with some food and non-food items were prepared to ensure that food and other supplies will be provided immediately to affected individuals.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang ating pagkilos upang maaksyunan ang maaring pinsalang dulot ng Super Typhoon #EgayPH,” Marcos said on Twitter.
He said power supply have already been restored in 93.53 percent affected areas.
In a situational report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said a total of 44,356 families or 180,439 individuals were affected by Egay in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen.
It said a total of 2,324 families or 8,917 persons in 107 barangays in the affected regions were inside evacuation centers.
The disaster bureau said one person was reported dead due to the effects of Egay while two were injured.
Several road sections and bridges were also reported impassable either due to flooding or fallen debris such as trees and electric posts.
The NDRRMC said 8.949 passengers, 1,745 rolling cargoes, 79 vessels and 25 motorbancas were stranded in various ports in the affected areas due to hazardous sea conditions.
Damage to infrastructure was pegged at P1.5 million.
In its update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Egay maintained its strength even after making landfall over Dalupiri Island in Aparri, Cagayan.
As of 10 a.m., Egay was spotted over the coastal waters of Aparri Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 240 km/h, and central pressure of 935 hPa.
It was moving southwestward at 15 km/h with strong to typhoon-force winds that may extend outwards up to 700 km from the center.
The northern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Santa Praxedes) including Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Santa Marcela), and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Burgos, Bangui, Dumalneg, Pagudpud, Adams, Pasuquin, Vintar, Bacarra) remained under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) Number 4.
Under TCWS number 3 were Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the rest of Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga (Rizal, Pinukpuk, Balbalan), the northern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Lacub, Danglas, Bangued, La Paz, San Juan, Dolores, Tayum, Lagangilang, Malibcong, Licuan-Baay, Peñarrubia, Pidigan, Langiden, San Quintin, Bucay, San Isidro, Sallapadan), the rest of Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Magsingal, San Juan, Cabugao, Sinait, San Vicente, Santo Domingo, San Ildefonso, Bantay, Santa Catalina, City of Vigan, Caoayan, Santa, Nagbukel, Narvacan).
TCWS number 2 was hoisted over Isabela, the rest of Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of Abra, the rest of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the northern and western portions of Pangasinan (Sison, San Jacinto, Pozorrubio, San Fabian, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Binmaley, Lingayen, Bugallon, Mabini, Labrador, Infanta, Dasol, Burgos, Agno, City of Alaminos, Sual, Anda, Bolinao, Bani, San Manuel, Binalonan, Laoac, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, San Nicolas).
Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, the northern portion of Batangas (Talisay, City of Tanauan, Santo Tomas, Balete, Malvar, Lipa City), the northern and central portion of Quezon (Pitogo, Calauag, Infanta, Lopez, Guinayangan, Unisan, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Padre Burgos, Mauban, General Nakar, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, Tagkawayan, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Lucban, Sampaloc, City of Tayabas, Dolores, Sariaya, Candelaria, Tiaong, San Antonio) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, Lagonoy, Caramoan, Cabusao, Sipocot, Garchitorena, Ragay, Del Gallego, Calabanga, Presentacion, Lupi), and the northern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Caramoran) were under TCWS number 1.
“Violent, life-threatening conditions are expected to continue over Babuyan Islands, the northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, and the northern portions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte in the next 6 hours,” said Pagasa.
“Significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds may be experienced within the areas under Wind Signal No. 4. Moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds may be experienced within the areas under Wind Signal No. 3. Minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds are possible within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 2 is in effect. Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are also possible within any of the areas where Wind Signal No.1 is hoisted,” it added.
Egay was forecast to exit the Philippine area of Responsibility on Thursday morning, July 27. (SunStar Philippines)