By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
EXPECT “heavy to intense rain” in the city and many other areas in Mindanao today as “Onyok” accelerated while it moved from the ocean to Caraga, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Pagasa weather specialist Luz Mercado said there would be a heavy downpour within the 100-kilometer radius of the storm.
At presstime, Onyok was forecast to make a landfall in Caraga last night or between 10 am and 11 am in Davao Oriental today.
Mercado said the state weather bureau was expecting 15 to 30 millimeters of rain per hour which, based on Pagasa’s tri-color warning system, translates to a “green warning.”
Under a green warning, citizens, especially those living in low-lying areas, are advised to prepare for possible evacuation.
Mercado said there is a possibility of one to two hours of continuous heavy rain in some Mindanao areas.
Anianita Fortich, another Pagasa weather specialist, said Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and Bukidnon would be in 150-kilometer radius of Onyok’s cloud band.
Fortich said heavy to intense rain is expected in Kitaotao, San Fernando, Dancagan, Kalilangan, Talakag, Baungon, Cabanglasan, Damolog, Kibawe, Don Carlos, and Malaybay in Bukidnon.
If it rains hard in these areas by noon time, expect floodwaters in the city by 3 pm to 4 pm, she said.
At 2 pm yesterday, city hall advised families in 32 barangays in the city to seek refuge elsewhere after the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council decided that preemptive evacuation would be a wise move.
City Disaster Risk Reduction Management officer Allan Procadilla said city hall also raised the alert level from “yellow” to “orange.”
Mayor Oscar Moreno mobilized city hall’s Incident Management Team (IMT) and directed it to work hard and prevent casualties.
In Misamis Oriental, Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano stepped up the capitol’s monitoring.
Jeric Abasa, capitol’s assistant disaster risk reduction and management officer, said some 16 places in Misamis Oriental were being monitored 24 hours a day because these are considered flood- and landslide-prone areas. These include Manticao, Naawan, Lugait, El Salvador, Opol, Tagoloan, Villanueva, Jasaan, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Salay, Claveria, Talisayan, Medina, Gingoog, and Magsaysay.
Pagasa, in an advisory released at 11 am yesterday, said Onyok changed directions due to winds from the north. As of noon time, it was moved westward, and still packed winds of 55 kilometer per hour.
Onyok is forecast to be 615 kilometers west of Zamboanga City tomorrow, and become a low preasure area by Monday.
In the 11 am advisory, Pagasa hoisted Storm Warning Signal No. 1 in Maguindanao, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, the Davao provinces, Davao City, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Agusan provinces, Surigao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin.
During the 2nd Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment Meeting at VIP Hotel yesterday, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Ana Cañeda declared a “blue alert” in Region 10.
Cañeda said disaster risk reduction management officials and personnel in all levels should be alert “24/7.”
“Ato gyud nga sigurohon nga ‘no casualty,’” said Cañeda.
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