Cebu braces for “Tisoy”

CEBU, Philippines —  Local authorities are bracing for the possible effects of Typhoon Tisoy to Cebu.

Tisoy, the 20th tropical cyclone in 2019 and fourth in November, entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 4 p.m. yesterday, Saturday. 

Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak, member of the City Council’s committee on disaster risk reduction and management said barangays in the city have been alerted of Tisoy’s possible effects, especially that Cebu is expected to experience rains.

“We urge everyone to prepare, stay alert, and be ready sa unos… maayo nga andam ta sa incoming nga mga disaster (We urge everyone to prepare, stay alert, and be ready sa unos… it’s better if are ready for incoming disasters),” Tumulak told The Freeman.

Meanwhile, newly reappointed Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) head Neil Sanchez said the province is monitoring the typhoon and will conduct pre-disaster risk assessment tomorrow, Monday.

"I'm not saying that there is but because of the radius, mag-cover gyud ang northern part. We are monitoring that," he said.

As of Friday, November 29, the PDRRMO advised towns especially those in coastal areas to be on alert.

Trips for sea vessels have also been temporarily cancelled because of gale warnings.

Saturday Status

Tisoy entered PAR on the day the 30th Southeast Asian Games opened in the Philippines.

As of yesterday, Tisoy was located 1,165 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes packing maximum sustained winds of 150 km per hour and gusts of up to 185 kph. It is moving west southwest at 15 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over the following areas:

• Eastern Samar and eastern section of Northern Samar

• Laoag

• Palapag

• Mapanas

• Gamay

• Lapinig

• Catubig

• Las Navas

Occasional to frequent heavy rains will prevail over Bicol Region, Samar provinces and Biliran. Moderate to occasional heavy rains may be experienced over Romblon, Marinduque and Quezon. 

The typhoon will dump frequent to continuous heavy rains over Metro Manila, Bicol Region, CALABARZON, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan while moderate to occasional heavy rains will prevail over the rest of Luzon. 

"Residents in the aforementioned areas, especially those living in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to flooding and rain-induced landslides, are advised to take appropriate actions, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, especially the Thunderstorm or Rainfall Advisories and Heavy Rainfall Warnings to be issued by PAGASA Regional Services Divisions," the weather bureau said.

PAGASA warned fishermen against sailing over the seaboards of areas under tropical cyclone wind signal, the northern and western seaboards of northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of the country.

Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1 may be hoisted over the rest of northern Samar, Samar, Catanduanes and Sorsogon in the next weather bulletin.

The weather bureau said that “Tisoy” may make a landfall over Bicol Region between Monday afternoon and Tuesday early morning. 

Forecast position:

• 24 hour (Sunday afternoon): 635 km east of Virac, Catanduanes

• 48 hour (Monday afternoon): 190 km east of Virac, Catanduanes

• 72 hour (Tuesday afternoon): in the vicinity of Tayabas, Quezon

• 96 hour (Wednesday afternoon): 300 km west of Subic, Zambales

• 120 hour (Thursday afternoon): 540 km west of Subic, Zambales. Philstar.com (FREEMAN)