Phl braces for typhoon 'Chedeng'

MANILA, Philippines -  More areas were placed under storm warning signals yesterday as tropical storm “Chedeng” (international name Songda) intensified into a typhoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Chedeng was expected to slam into northern Luzon tomorrow, but it could change course and head toward more populated areas near Metro Manila, forecasters said.

Authorities are bracing for the worst-case scenario, with preparations underway for the possibility that the howler could hit the Samar provinces and the Bicol Region before passing through Metro Manila.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, storm warning signal no. 2 was hoisted over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and the Samar provinces.

Signal no. 1 was raised over Marinduque, Masbate, Burias and Ticao islands, southern Quezon, Polillo, northern Leyte and Biliran island.

PAGASA said areas under signal no. 2 can expect winds of 61 to 100 kilometers per hour (kph) in the next 24 hours.

Areas under signal no. 1 may experience winds of 45 to 60 kph within the next 36 hours, PAGASA said.

PAGASA weather division chief Robert Sawi said Chedeng was almost stationary and is forecast to hit northern Luzon on Friday.

“The high pressure area north of the system is controlling the movement of the typhoon,” Sawi told a press briefing.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Chedeng was estimated at 310 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.

The howler packed maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

Chedeng was forecast to move northwest at 15 kph.

PAGASA weather forecaster Jun Galang said Chedeng slightly changed course yesterday from west northwest to northwest.

Chedeng gathered speed from nine kph, or almost stationary, to 15 kph.

Galang said Chedeng is expected to make landfall over the Cagayan-Aurora area on Friday.

Sawi said a high pressure area north of the country was blocking Chedeng’s path.

Rescue teams prepare rubber boats and motorized bancas on the Marikina riverbank. BOY SANTOS

“The high pressure area north of the system is controlling the movement of the typhoon,” Sawi said.

PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul said the sudden slow speed of the typhoon indicated a possible change in course.

Yumul said Chedeng is supposed to move in a west northwest direction and hit Isabela-Aurora area on Friday.

But the continuing change of direction of Chedeng moving westward could lead to the Samar-Bicol area.

“If Chedeng moves in a westward direction, Metro Manila may be hit,” Yumul said in the same press briefing.

Other weather monitoring websites, including the Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the US and Japan Meteorological Agency, indicated Chedeng might just hug the eastern seaboard of the Philippines without making landfall.

The Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) also made a forecast that the typhoon would veer away from the Philippines and head to the eastern seaboard of Japan.

Chedeng had picked up strength with winds reaching up to over 200 kph, making it a Category 3 storm.

Sawi added PAGASA may raise storm warning signal over Metro Manila if the typhoon moves westward or toward Bicol-Samar area.

Sawi said if Chedeng moves closer to Samar, it would bring moderate to heavy rains over the area. He said the typhoon was forecast to dump 100 millimeters of rainfall per day.

Sawi said stormy weather will be experienced in Samar and the Bicol region on Thursday.

By Friday, moderate to heavy rains will prevail over the northern tip of Luzon.

The southwest monsoon – which was being enhanced by the typhoon – will also bring moderate to heavy rains over the western section of Visayas and Mindanao beginning yesterday until today.

Northern and Central Luzon, as well as Metro Manila, could also experience moderate to heavy rains and moderate to strong winds starting Friday until Saturday.

“We expect the whole of Luzon to be wet as Chedeng moves closer,” Sawi said.

He said Chedeng was expected to move to Taiwan on Saturday and leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday.

Chedeng is predicted to be at 170 km east northeast of Catarman or 210 km southeast of Virac, Catanduanes this morning; at 160 km northwest of Virac or 190 km southeast of Baler, Aurora by Friday morning.

By Saturday morning, it will be at 200 km north of Baler or in the vicinity of Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

PAGASA warned residents in low lying areas under storm warning signals to guard against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Likewise, those living in coastal areas are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by the typhoon.

Preparations

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo advised local officials in seven provinces in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas to take precautionary measures.

Robredo called on local officials of the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar to activate their respective local disaster risk reduction management committees to ensure that all disaster mechanisms are in place before Chedeng makes landfall.

Robredo advised concerned LGUs to coordinate with the police and the military to help them during evacuation efforts as well as with other concerned government agencies.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has ordered the evacuation of 49,893 families in high-risk areas in the province.

Salceda ordered the relocation of some 7,546 families who are at risk to lahar at the slopes of Mayon volcano, another 13,322 families who are at risk to landslides, including 21,766 families to flooding as well as 7,256 families living in coastal communities whose houses are made of light materials.

Salceda also ordered employees in government and private firms to take a half day off to allow them to make necessary preparations for the coming typhoon.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) chief Benito Ramos said thousands of residents in disaster-prone areas in Albay, Catanduanes and Sorsogon are expected to be evacuated in preparation for typhoon Chedeng.

Ramos warned Chedeng could exceed the damage left by storm “Bebeng” last month due to its projected strength.

“The typhoon will affect areas that rely on agriculture like Cagayan, which is considered our rice granary,” Ramos said.

“The property damage caused by Bebeng reached P1.3 billion. This could be exceeded because of the strength (of typhoon Chedeng),” he said.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), the operator of the country’s power transmission grid, said they are activating command centers in areas within the typhoon’s path.

The NGCP said this is to ensure that all necessary preparations and precautions are implemented to minimize the impact of the typhoon on grid operations and expedite power restoration in affected areas.

And even as disaster officials are bracing for the worst, there are reports of flooding and tornadoes attributed to the worsening weather conditions brought about by the approaching storm.

At least six villages in a town of Zamboanga del Sur were submerged by flashfloods, officials said.

Zamboanga del Sur police provincial director Senior Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela said at least 1,100 residents of the villages Culo, Madasigon, Mabuhay, Maloloy-on, Poblacion, and Sudlon, all in the town of Molave, were affected.

At least eight houses were destroyed when a tornado hit Barangay Sta. Rita, Cabiao, Nueva Ecija last Tuesday. No one was reported hurt or killed.

The Coast Guard, on the other hand, reported that at least 3,600 people were stranded at seaports in Samar and three provinces in the Bicol region.

Most of the passengers stranded were in Matnog, Sorsogon. While in the port of Allen in the province of Samar there were 1,125 people waiting for clearance to travel.

The Coast Guard said a total of 1,886 people were stranded in the three seaports of Sorsogon; 512 people in Albay and 81 people in Masbate.

Cebu Pacific also canceled flights between Manila and Naga City in Camarines Sur as the typhoon threatened the Bicol region.

Cebu Pacific said it had canceled seven flights while Philippine Airlines canceled one flight to the Bicol region after it was placed under storm signal no. 2.

Relief authorities led by Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said they have readied relief goods worth P28.9 million in areas that are expected to be affected by the typhoon.

“We have prepositioned goods (food and non-food items) in Regions 2, 3, 4B, 5 and 8 worth P28.9 million,” she said.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said they are ready to donate 20 container vans filled with used clothing to the DSWD for distribution as relief goods.

Alvarez said Customs would immediately turn over the used clothes to the DSWD upon request.

In Metro Manila, the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) has mobilized its sea assets for search and rescue operations.

The NCRPO mobilized its 11 motorized bancas and 24 rubber boats in the low-lying areas of Caloocan City, Navotas, Malabon City, Valenzuela City, Marikina City, Pasig City, Taguig City and Muntinlupa City.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima said police have been placed on heightened alert since Monday following reports that Chedeng might hit the Bicol region and Northern Luzon.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) alerted its troops engaged in the Brigada Eskwela activities in Metro Manila to help in disaster and relief operations. –With Evelyn Macairan, Donnabelle Gatdula, Jaime Laude, Celso Amo, Alexis Romero, Non Alquitran, Rudy Santos, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ric Sapnu, Roel Pareño