MANILA -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said a tropical storm is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility tonight or Saturday early morning, December 24.
The tropical storm will be named “Nina,” the 14th cyclone to enter the country this year.
The state weather bureau said the tropical storm has maximum winds of 75 kilometer per hour (kph) and gustiness of 95 kph.
The tropical storm was forecast to move west northwest at 23 kph.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms will be experienced over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao Region.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains is expected over the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley, and partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
According to Pagasa, northeast monsoon affects northern Luzon.
Moderate to occasionally strong winds will blow from northeast over Northern Luzon, and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough.
Elsewhere, Pagasa said winds will be light to moderate coming from east to northeast with slight to moderate seas.
In preparation for the Tropical Storm Nina, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Albay will adopt five scenario-based disaster strategies.
PDRRMC Action Officer Cedric Daep said preparations are in place as they consider the occurrence of four disaster-based scenarios.
These include: should the province be directly hit by Nina, not directly hit but affected within the 300-kilometer radius of the storm’s diameter, Albay to be affected even outside the 50-km periphery of the tropical storm but within the rain band, Nina to be affected by the northeast monsoon or “amihan” that would push Nina to move south, affecting Sorsogon and Masbate.
The last scenario is when the tropical storm moves on the northside of Albay.
“We have prepared disaster mitigating measures for these eventualities,” said Daep in an interview.
In Iloilo, Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director Rosario Cabrera Thursday convened core members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment and will call for a second round of meeting Friday to know their ongoing preparations.
Cabrera said Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils in the region were already alerted through the Department of Interior and Local Government to revisit their preparations guided by their “Operation Listo” or disaster preparedness manual.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development also has its standby funds in addition to food packs that will be utilized when necessary.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines also expressed its readiness to respond when there is a need for search and rescue operation. (PNA/Sunnex)