Inday’s impact in Metro Manila felt by weekend

MANILA, Philippines —  Metro Manila will experience Typhoon Inday’s “significant” impact over the weekend, even after being downgraded to typhoon category, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said yesterday.

Under the “significant” level, several facilities may be damaged and serious injuries and danger to life are possible.

Several houses and buildings, mostly makeshift or made of unreinforced light materials, may sustain slight to moderate damage.

Power and water interruptions in several areas are possible.

Disruptions in road, rail, sea and air transportation may be expected, with many passengers stranded and facing longer travel times.

Tropical wind signal No. 2 was raised in Batanes, eastern portion of Babuyan Islands and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.

Under tropical wind signal No. 1 were the rest of Cagayan, Isabela, the northeastern portion of Quirino, Apayao, the northern portion of Abra, Kalinga, the eastern portion of Mountain Province, eastern portion of Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, northern portion of Aurora and the northern and central portions of Catanduanes.

Floods hit Mindanao

In Bangsamoro, floods swept through over 30 barangays in low-lying areas in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

Both provinces are close to the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Delta, a catch basin for large rivers that spring from mountain ranges in Bukidnon, Maguindanao del Sur, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato.

Areas badly hit by floods include Tambunan in Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur and Nituan in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte and parts of Cotabato City, where Bangsamoro’s capitol is located.

In Bukidnon, more than 700 families in three barangays in Malaybalay City relocated due to flash floods, based on radio reports.

Landslides rendered portions of a road impassable in Barangay Managok in the city.

Classes in six Malaybalay schools were suspended.

In Sultan Kudarat, 15 families stranded in Sitio Pakil in Barangay Barurao 1 in Lebak town were rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Four pregnant women, six seniors and 26 children were among those rescued.

As of 8 a.m. yesterday, the PCG recorded 507 stranded passengers and 147 rolling cargoes in 23 ports.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. yesterday placed police regional offices and national support units on heightened alert status to ensure operational readiness and public safety.

A Philippine Airlines Express flight, from Manila to Cotabato, was diverted to Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority said.

Be ready, LGUs told

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has urged local government units to activate contingency plans, prepare relief supplies and ensure evacuation centers are ready.

Gatchalian pushed for the full implementation of the Ligtas Pinoy Act, which mandates the establishment of dedicated evacuation centers in every city and town.

In the 2026 national budget, P3.745 billion has been earmarked for the construction of evacuation centers to support the law’s implementation, he noted.

Local officials in Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region and Cagayan are preparing for Typhoon Inday’s potential impact after a blue alert status has been raised.

Office of Civil Defense spokesman Junie Castillo said authorities are monitoring the typhoon to ensure the protection of vulnerable groups, especially in high-risk areas.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday requested mall operators in Luzon to allow free overnight parking. –  John Unson, Gerry Lee Gorit, Evelyn Macairan, Rudy Santos, Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso, Mark Ernest Villeza, Michael Punongbayan, Andrew Ronquillo