By JOEY NACALABAN
Correspondent .
CITY hall yesterday mobilized its disaster risk reduction management team ahead of the forecast entry of a powerful typhoon today.
Maricel Rivera, city hall spokesperson, said this even as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned of moderate to heavy rains in most parts of the country starting today as typhoon “Mangkhut” continued to gain strength as it barrels towards the Philippine area.
Rivera said the local government started preparing its equipment and devices for the super typhoon.
She said the water levels of rivers were being monitored.
“Even localized thunderstorms can make the water levels to rise. The more we should be ready now in anticipation of this typhoon,” she said.
Rivera said the local government has installed early warning systems like sirens in identified danger zones in the barangays.
Rivera said city hall was waiting for Pagasa’s advice on the entry of the typhoon. Until then, she said, city hall would not raise the alert levels.
Pagasa said the typhoon, to be named “Ompong” the moment it enters Philippine territory, was last observed at 1,845 kilometers east of southern Luzon as of 8 am yesterday. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 170 kilometers per hour near the center, gusts of 210 kph, as it moved west slowly at 25 kph. It is estimated to enter the Philippine area later today.
Upon entering the country, the typhoon’s maximum sustained winds may reach 210 kph and gusts of 260 kph.
But although it is expected to dump moderate to heavy rains in Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte and Batanes in Luzon, Pagasa weather specialist Jose Frivaldo said the typhoon’s effects could be felt in Mindanao. He told this paper on Monday that the typhoon tracking towards Luzon could result in rains, floodings and landslides here.
Officials advised residents to brace for moderate to heavy rainfall, and conditions that could affect waters off coastal areas.
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