By NITZ ARANCON
with EDWIN IYO
Correspondents
“VINTA” continued to threaten lives and property in Mindanao as it picked up more strength, prompting the state weather bureau to upgrade its category from a tropical depression to tropical storm before it could make landfall.
Loriedin de la Cruz, a weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said Vinta is seen to traverse northern Mindanao after it makes landfall between Caraga and the Davao regions.
Pagasa expected the landfall to take place between last night and this morning.
De la Cruz said the tropical storm would then head towards Zamboanga peninsula and southern Palawan before it tracks toward southern Vietnam.
Vinta strengthened yesterday as it tracked toward Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds from 55 kilometers per hour on Wednesday to 65 km/h yesterday morning, and gustiness of up to 80 km/h from 65 km/h a day earlier.
Pagasa said Vinta was last observed at 440 kilometers east of Hinatuan, and it is forecast to move westward at 18 km/h.
The provinces of Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and northern Davao Oriental were placed under Storm Warning Signal no. 2.
The northern Mindanao provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte were placed under Storm Warning Signal no. 1.
Also placed under Storm Signal no. 1 were Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Maguindanao, Davao del Norte, parts of Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur, and the Dinagat Islands.
Alarmed, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department called for a coordination meeting with representatives of various government officesm including the police, military and civil defense at 3 pm yesterday after it became clearer that Vinta would traverse Region 10.
Allan Porcadilla, CDRRMD head, said Cagayan de Oro has been placed under “Code Yellow” which signals barangay disaster risk reduction management councils to prepare for the storm’s impact and possible floodings and landslides, among others.
Porcadilla said city hall was also closely monitoring the water levels of the city’s rivers using gauges.
At the capitol, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano said a capitol workforce may be required to sacrifice their Christmas break, specifically this weekend up to Christmas day, if the situation worsens.
“Walay bakasyon karon pasko kung ang bagyo dili matunaw,” Emano said.
He said the capitol has been preparing for storm Vinta since Dec. 19.
“I’ve talked with the department heads, and even apologized to their families that we might not be able to celebrate Christmas with them because we will be preparing for a calamity,” Emano said.
He said the capitol has also prepared all its heavy equipment and disaster teams.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer would be on “red alert,” Emano said.
He said some 500 capitol workers are also ready to be deployed across the province for disaster response, rescue and relief aid work.
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