Helen threatens extreme north

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Helen (international name Megi) entered the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday, threatening to affect the extreme northern Luzon in the next few days.

Helen – which entered the country’s territory around 4 p.m. yesterday – is not expected to make landfall in the country, according to the forecast track released by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

However, it may affect the northernmost part of the country, including Batanes province which was heavily devastated by Typhoon Ferdie last week.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Helen was located at 1,390 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora. It packs maximum sustained winds of 110 km per hour and gustiness of 140 kph.

It is moving west-northwest at 25 kph, according to PAGASA.

The weather bureau said Helen could still intensify as it is still over water, and that the forecast track may still change in the following days.

Helen is expected to be at 840 east of Basco, Batanes this afternoon and continue to head toward Taiwan this week.

It is forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday.

“Estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy rains within the 600-km diameter of the severe tropical storm,” said PAGASA.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is on blue alert in preparation for the storm.

It directed local government units to implement precautionary measures and initiate preemptive evacuation of families in low-lying areas and mountainous areas if the situation warrants.

PAGASA also monitored yesterday several thunderstorms that brought moderate rainfall in several parts of the country, including Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog region, Cebu and Zamboanga peninsula.

“Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough,” said PAGASA.

“Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northwest to southwest with slight to moderate seas,” it added.

Recovery efforts to continue

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday said recovery and rehabilitation efforts for the victims of Typhoons Ferdie and Gener will continue even as another storm has entered the country.

Aside from distributing relief assistance, Batanes has started providing galvanized steel sheets to affected families for house repairs.

The DSWD Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB) and Field Officec-2 are also mapping out an emergency shelter assistance and cash-for-work program to benefit 2,241 families with damaged houses.

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, for her part, said the DSWD is doing the necessary preparations for Helen, including repacking relief goods and intensifying coordination with local government units in Northern Luzon. – With Rainier Allan Ronda