MANILA, MAY 25, 2011 (STAR) By Helen Flores - (PHOTO - Canals and drainage systems must be cleaned up to avoid flooding, and families living in landslide and flood-prone areas evacuated)
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised yesterday storm warning signals in at least six areas in Luzon and the Visayas as tropical storm "Chedeng" continued to move closer to the country.
Storm warning signal no. 1 was hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon and Samar provinces as of 5 p.m. yesterday.
The eye of the storm was spotted at 450 kilometers east-northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 115 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 145 kph. It was forecast to move west-northwest at 13 kph as of 4 p.m. yesterday.
PAGASA weather branch chief Robert Sawi said Chedeng slightly intensified yesterday afternoon from 105 kph maximum sustained winds to 115 kph.
Sawi said Chedeng is expected to intensify into a typhoon in the next 24 hours even as he raised the possibility that Chedeng could become a super typhoon as it gathers strength over the Pacific Ocean.
He said the southwest monsoon – which is being enhanced by Chedeng – was expected to bring heavy rains over the western section of Visayas and Mindanao.
Sawi said the concentration of rains will be in the provinces of Isabela, Quezon and Aurora by Thursday, while Central and Northern Luzon will experience stormy weather on Friday and Saturday.
"It is unsafe to travel by land, air or sea during these days," Sawi said.
Flaviana Hilario, PAGASA acting deputy administrator for research and development, said Chedeng could bring over 400 millimeters (mm) of rainfall in 24 hours over Northern Luzon, which is close to the 455 mm rainfall brought by tropical storm "Ondoy" on Sept. 26, 2009.
Sawi said Metro Manila will not be directly hit by the storm but it would experience moderate to heavy rains beginning Friday until Saturday. He said the enhanced southwest monsoon is expected to dump 4.17 mm per hour of rainfall, which could cause severe flooding.
Chedeng is the third tropical cyclone and so far the strongest to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year, according to Sawi.
Relief agencies on alert
As the country braces for Chedeng, President Aquino put state relief agencies on alert and warned those living near the coast to get ready to evacuate.
Aquino believes there is enough time to prevent casualties as the storm is not forecast to hit the northeastern part of Luzon until late Thursday, his spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.
"President Aquino is closely monitoring the preparations for the coming of (storm Chedeng) and has instructed concerned agencies to do all that is possible to minimize loss of life and damage to property," Lacierda said.
"We appeal to those living in low-lying and landslide-prone areas to cooperate with local authorities if and when they are asked to evacuate," he added.
The President also ordered concerned officials to enforce a military-style evacuation of people if needed to ensure zero casualty.
Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul in a press briefing in Malacañang said people should heed warnings so as not to be caught unprepared, like what happened when typhoon Ondoy hit the country in 2009.
"(The President) wants one sign and that's it, the people will go to the evacuation center. The marching order of the President is zero casualty. It is not only in Albay but actually in all parts of the Philippines. We have to emphasize that for the simple reason that every time we give warning it's not really just about livelihood and properties but actual lives," Yumul said.
Disaster preparedness in place
Navy chief Vice Adm. Alexander Pama said naval forces in Luzon, Visayas and Metro Manila are now preparing for possible relief efforts.
"We have alerted the troops in Southern Luzon, Northern Luzon and of course Metro Manila and even Central Philippines. Due to climate change, we cannot predict the path of the storm," he said.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos said their local units are also preparing their respective contingency plans.
"We have directed regional disaster risk reduction and management councils concerned… to undertake precautionary measures in their area of responsibility," he said.
Ramos said local disaster management officials are ready to conduct preemptive evacuation of families in low-lying and mountainous areas if necessary.
In Legazpi City, Gov. Joey Salceda issued Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Advisory 3 for the Philippine Coast Guard to implement a no sailing to sea for small passenger sea craft and fishing boats. Crossing of all river channels, spillways and other waterways is also prohibited.
"Let us tirelessly and persistently work and aim for zero casualty," Salceda said.
Salceda also told The STAR that some 174 barangay captains from Albay who are taking part in the Liga Congress in Baguio City have decided to come home so they can attend to the needs of their constituents.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also dispatched Disaster Quick Response (DQR) teams to critical sections along the national roads of Western Visayas, Bicol region, Cagayan Valley and Northern Luzon which are expected to be affected by the storm.
Under Department Order No. 38, the DQR teams should submit situational reports every six hours during calamities to effect timely and expeditious response.
"PAGASA has already warned that there is a possibility that typhoon Chedeng may bring heavier rains compared to typhoon Milenyo, that's why we must double our efforts to assure public safety and to assure immediate rescue and relief operation during calamity," Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said.
Civil Defense regional director Adriano Fuego said the local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (DRRMC) in Western Mindanao had also been mobilized.
In Pampanga, Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3) director, said members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) would also be holding a conference to discuss its preparations for Chedeng.
LGUs warned
Senate committee on climate change chair Loren Legarda said the heads of local government units, particularly those projected to be hit by Chedeng, should be prepared for the possibility of it becoming a super typhoon.
"By now, LGUs and barangays should already be prepared for typhoon Chedeng. They should be ready to implement disaster management and early warning systems in their respective areas," Legarda said.
She said that the LGUs should have no excuse for complacency because they have repeatedly been told to implement disaster risk reduction programs, including the identification of relocation areas for their residents.
Legarda also advised the LGUs to ready their warning systems, including simple devices such as bells, whistles and flags. – With Aurea Calica, Alexis Romero, Marvin Sy, Ric Sapnu, Celso Amo, Roel Pareño, Evelyn Macairan
STORM 'CHEDENG' (SONGDA) ENTERS PHL
By Helen Flores - Be ready for heavy rains and strong winds starting tomorrow.
Tropical storm "Chedeng" (international name Songda) is moving closer to the country, Robert Sawi, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather branch chief, said yesterday.
Chedeng is expected to intensify into a typhoon in the next 24 hours, he added.
Speaking to reporters, Sawi said the storm will start dumping rains over the eastern section of the country beginning Wednesday, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.
"Chedeng is so far the strongest tropical cyclone to enter the country this year," he said.
He warned fishermen against venturing into the seas in Visayas and Mindanao.
Big waves are expected to prevail over these areas, he added.
Graciano Yumul, PAGASA supervising undersecretary, said Chedeng will continue to gather strength while over the Pacific Ocean.
"Chedeng could still intensify into a super typhoon," he said.
Yumul said everybody should prepare as the whole country is expected to experience rains and strong winds due to the storm.
"The eastern seaboard will be directly affected by the storm but it will also enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring rains over the western seaboard… the western seaboard will be extremely wet from Wednesday to Friday," he said.
Yumul said the storm could dump up to 20 to 55 millimeters per hour of rainfall, which is close to the 56 mm per hour rainfall brought by tropical storm "Ondoy" in September 2009.
Moderate to heavy rains will be felt by residents in the eastern seaboard particularly in the provinces of Samar and Negros starting tomorrow, he added.
Yumul said Chedeng is expected to make landfall over Cagayan-Isabela area on Friday, if it maintains its speed and direction.
Residents in Metro Manila and Central Luzon will also experience moderate to heavy rains starting Thursday night to Friday, he added.
As of 2 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Chedeng was spotted at 720 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.
Chedeng was forecast to move west northwest at 15 kph.
No storm warning signals were raised as of yesterday afternoon.
Rains will prevail over the Bicol region, Quezon, Quirino and Aurora on Thursday and in Cagayan-Isabela Aurora on Friday.
Chedeng, the third tropical storm to enter the country this year, is expected to be at 540 km east northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar this morning and at 360 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes by tomorrow morning.
By Thursday morning, it will be at 265 km north northeast of Virac or at 250 km east of Casuguran, Aurora.
Red Cross: Prepare for storm
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) urged residents yesterday to prepare for Chedeng.
Gwendolyn Pang, PRC secretary-general, said the public must constantly monitor the progress of the typhoon.
"Strengthen (your) houses that are made of light materials," she said. "Prepare survival kits."
Residents must avoid coastal, mountainous, streams and riverbanks, especially when the storm signal is high, she added.
Pang said PRC staff and volunteers have been alerted to monitor their areas for flooding and landslides and to report serious incidents.
"They were advised to be on full alert status including their Red Cross 143 volunteers," she said.
"We have identified volunteers to go on duty in case needed."
The PRC had already "pre-positioned" some 8,000 families for initial response if necessary, Pang said.
Salceda distributes rubber boats
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda distributed yesterday three rubber boats to the Army, Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection in preparation for Chedeng.
Each rubber boat costs P480,000.
Salceda has met twice with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) to make adequate preparation.
The radius of the storm is 500 kms., following almost the same path of tropical storm "Bebeng" a week ago.
Salceda ordered PAGASA to provide a five-day forecast even if the weather disturbance is still outside the country.
"We are still within its scope because on Wednesday Chedeng is 360 kms east northeastern of Virac," he said.
Jun Dalida, PAGASA Southern Luzon bureau chief, said Chedeng has accelerated slightly as it continues to move in the west northwest direction as of 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.
It is still at sea and packs maximum winds of 95 kph near the center and gusts of up to 120 kph and continues to move northwest at 15 kph, he added.
Dalida said based on rainfall monitoring dated May 15 this year the normal monthly rainfall in this city which is 170 mm has already reached 296mm, while that of Guinobatan town has already reached 357mm compared to its normal level at 130mm.
"We have to prepare because Chedeng carries more water than tropical storm Bebeng," he said.
Dalida said Albay is already water-logged.
The Juban station in Sorsogon also showed an abnormally high rainfall level from 130mm to 700mm, he added.
In Nagtapis Point in Bacacay, Albay, Navy divers and Coast Guard rescue team are trying to help a cargo vessel which ran aground in Barangay Busdac.
Brig. Gen. Marlou Salazar, 9th Infantry Division assistant commander, said 72 vehicles are ready in case a preemptive evacuation order is given while Army search and rescue teams are already on standby. — With Sheila Crisostomo, Celso Amo
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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