MANILA -- “Basyang” (international codename: Conson) has weakened into a tropical storm as it made landfall over Northern Quezon late Tuesday, but signal number 2 was hoisted over Metro Manila.
In its 11 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Basyang, previously a typhoon, now packs maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 120 kph near the center.
Twenty-five of the country's 81 provinces and the capital Manila have been placed under storm alert, and residents in low-lying communities and near mountains and hills have been told to evacuate at any sign of danger.
Signal number 2 was hoisted over Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bataan, Batangas, Laguna, Lubang Island, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Rizal, Northern Quezon and Camarines Norte.
Signal number 1 was raised over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Rest of Quezon, Marinduque, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Ifugao, Benguet, and La Union.
The Department of Education (DepEd) announced late Tuesday the cancellation of classes in preschool, elementary, and high school in the National Capital Region and in areas under signal number 2 on Wednesday. It also announced the cancellation of classes in preschool in nine provinces under signal number 1.
Earlier, classes in preschool and elementary were suspended midday Tuesday at the National Capital Region when Pagasa placed Metro Manila under typhoon signal number 1.
“This is done automatically to allow students to go home safely,” DepEd media relations officer Maggie Collado said.
She said classes in preschool and elementary will be automatically suspended under signal number 1, high school under signal number 2, and all levels under signal number 3.
Collado said the public may call the DepEd at (02) 631-6033 for any clarification, query or concern regarding the suspension of classes.
19 fishermen missing
Also on Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard said 19 fishermen who sailed despite rough weather were reported missing in Catanduanes province.
Big waves overturned three boats, carrying nine fishermen off Pandan town in Catanduanes. Villagers rescued one fisherman but eight others remained missing, regional Army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc said.
In nearby Bagamanok town, a villager reported that 11 men failed to return to shore after venturing out to sea to fish despite the rough weather, Cabunoc said, adding that authorities have warned fishermen to stay on shore due to the bad weather.
A search has been launched by the military coast guard.
Stranded passengers
Sea travel by small ferries was suspended, stranding more than 2,000 people in ports on Luzon, Coast guard chief Wilfredo Tamayo said.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said around 443 persons, 18 trucks, seven cars, four passenger buses, 42 rolling cargoes, 10 vessels, and eight motor bancas were not allowed to travel in various ports of the Bicol region.
Vessels at the ports of Tabaco, Victory Village Legaspi, Virac, Sabang, Pasacao, and Pioduran were prevented from sailing.
The NDCC said major roads and bridges in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, and the National Capital Region are passable to all types of vehicles.
At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), 20 flights were cancelled, 18 were delayed, and 30 were diverted as of 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Some flights were diverted to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga.
Clark International Airport Corporation president Victor Jose Luciano said DMIA started receiving diverted flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) at 12:04 p.m. Tuesday.
Luciano said the congestion at the Naia was aggravated by the bad weather, resulting in the emergency landing of aircraft at the Clark airport.
The 19 flights are of Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Zest Air, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, and Air Philippines Express.
"The visibility in Naia was bad so airport officials decided to divert their planes to Clark," Luciano said.
Red Cross on alert
The Philippine National Red Cross alerted its local chapters to respond to emergency situations, especially in areas to be hit by the typhoon.
“I enjoin all chapters concerned to take appropriate actions should there be any untoward incidents within their jurisdiction and to coordinate with our 24/7 Operation Center as frequent as possible. Let us all be alert and always ready to respond,” said PRC Chairman Richard Gordon.
He said that rescue equipment, rubber boats, generator sets, fuel and vehicles shall be on stand-by for possible operation or deployment.
NDCC administrator Benito Ramos, for his part, said they noted provincial disaster coordinating councils in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Bicol to take precautionary measures on the possible effects of the typhoon.
In Central Luzon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the region has standby relief goods and standby funds worth P300,000.
Ramos said they have enlisted personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the pre-emptive evacuation in affected areas and the AFP medical teams will be deployed to assist local government units.
Doppler radar
Pagasa Administrator Prisco Nilo said the weather bureau is more focused on flood as based on statistics, 80 percent of the damage to crops is due to flood, along with landslides.
Based on the Doppler radar record in Baler, Aurora, the typhoon will bring an average of 10 to 20 millimeters of rainfall per hour.
“The new Doppler radar has an accuracy of between 85 to 90 percent, that’s why we were able to have a more comprehensive estimate of the rainfall,” he told Sun.Star, adding that the country will have to brace for another storm before the end of the month. (Virgil Lopez/AH/AP/Reynaldo G. Navales/Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)