Monster typhoon roars toward Visayas

Classes suspended in Bohol, Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - Storm Haiyan intensified yesterday into a Category 4 “monster typhoon” as it roared toward the Philippines.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that Haiyan was poised to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this morning.

The super storm will be locally named Yolanda.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of Haiyan was spotted at 1,221 kilometers east of Mindanao with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It was forecast to move west-northwest at 30 kph.

The most powerful typhoon of the year, with winds possibly reaching over 250 kph, could cause “severe damage” as it moves toward eastern Visayas, PAGASA weather forecasting chief Rene Paciente said.

Paciente said Haiyan was expected to make landfall over the Samar-Leyte area between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow.

He said the typhoon will cross Masbate, northern Cebu, Romblon, northern Panay, Mindoro, and northern Palawan.

The US-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded Haiyan into a super typhoon before noon yesterday with packed winds of 130 knots (241 kph).

Paciente said PAGASA is not officially using the category “super typhoon” but some local officials, while preparing for the onslaught of the storm, described the approaching danger of Haiyan as a “monster typhoon.”

Local officials in the provinces of Cebu and Bohol ordered the suspension of classes in all levels starting today.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto suspended classes in all levels in both private and public schools due to the expected inclement weather.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda also ordered the suspension of classes in all levels and went on to order the suspension of work in all government offices today.

“This is in view of the expected interaction of climate and geologic risks due to the impending threat posed by Typhoon Yolanda to the province of Albay and in order to ensure disaster avoidance and to achieve zero casualty,” Salceda said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II tasked local officials in the Bicol and Visayas regions to prepare their constituents for the expected onslaught of the typhoon.

Roxas directed local officials to activate their local disaster risk reduction and management councils and disaster monitoring systems in preparation for Yolanda.

He said the local executives should immediately adopt measures to effectively warn residents, particularly those living along the coastlines and other danger areas, on the possible impact of Yolanda in their respective areas.

“It is better to be prepared than be sorry,” he said.

Roxas advised local officials of the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan to seek assistance from the local police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other first-responder units in case there is a need to evacuate residents from danger zones.

He also instructed the local executives to mobilize all government vehicles that may be needed in the evacuation process and put in place search and rescue teams.

Roxas specifically cited the need to identify and prepare evacuation centers and preposition relief goods for distribution.

Typhoon signals to be raised

PAGASA said it would raise signal no. 1 over the Visayas this morning once the typhoon enters the Philippine area of responsibility.

Paciente said there is the probability of hoisting signal no. 4, the highest storm warning signal, over parts of the Visayas tonight.

PAGASA said residents in areas under signal no. 4 could expect many large trees uprooted, severe damage on most residential areas and buildings and disruption of power and communication lines.

All travel and outdoor activities should be canceled, PAGASA advised.

“Overall, damage to affected communities can be very heavy,” the weather bureau said.

PAGASA deputy administrator Flaviana Hilario advised the public to be prepared as Haiyan is likely to gather more strength before making landfall.

Paciente added the typhoon would start dumping moderate to heavy rains over the whole Visayas region beginning this afternoon. He said the rains from Haiyan could also reach southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, starting Friday afternoon up to Saturday morning that could trigger flashfloods.

Paciente said signal no. 2 might be raised over Metro Manila as the typhoon passes Mindoro province.

Risk management

President Aquino has directed Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to take charge of preparations for the super typhoon and exert all efforts to attain the zero casualty goal.

Rescue boats and medical supplies have been readied and all relevant government agencies are on high alert to ensure a swift response to affected residents, especially those in flood prone areas, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma said.

“This is in accordance with the directives of the President to achieve a zero casualty goal in this disaster,” Coloma said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has mobilized all its attached agencies, particularly those based in the Visayas region, as disaster and rescue officials brace for the expected landfall of Yolanda tomorrow.

NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario said all regional offices of Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in coordination with the local government units whose areas are located along the projected path of Yolanda, are on blue alert and closely monitoring the movement of the super typhoon.

“All our OCD regional offices and attached agencies are now on blue alert in line with our continuing objective to attain zero casualty during calamities,” Del Rosario said following a briefing led by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. at the NDRRMC office at Camp Aguinaldo.

Coloma told a briefing at Malacañang that all provincial and municipal disaster risk reduction and management councils have been mobilized.

The Philippine Coast Guard, for its part, has mobilized over 300 of its newly acquired boats for rescue operations, particularly in the provinces directly in Yolanda’s projected path.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated its Disaster Incident Management Task Group to coordinate all disaster response operations of PNP regional commands and units in areas along the path of the typhoon.

The PNP’s National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Metro Manila has been placed on standby status since yesterday for rescue operations.

“Our disaster response teams, especially in low-lying areas of Metro Manila, are ready to be moved on short notice,” Chief Superintendent Dennis Peña, NCRPO deputy director for operations, said.

The NCRPO has alerted the Eastern and Northern Police districts whose areas are perennially submerged by floodwaters, especially the cities of Marikina, Malabon and Valenzuela.

Metro Manila has been placed under blue alert, as well as the regions of Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Central, Eastern and Western Visayas; Bicol, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.

Bohol was placed under red alert since most residents in the province are still suffering from the effects of the massive earthquake last month.

The provincial government of Bohol has ordered the forced evacuation of villagers in areas that have been identified as danger zones following the massive earthquake last Oct. 15.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) placed on standby some P192 million as emergency relief resources.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said they have prepositioned P192.7 million worth of emergency relief resources that include P34 million in standby funds, 84,703 family food packs amounting to P21.9 million, and other food and non-food items at P136.7 million for the regions that would be affected by the typhoon.

The DSWD activated its Quick Response Teams at the national and regional levels, and the Social Welfare and Development teams at the provincial level.

The DSWD also mobilized the provincial, municipal and city links of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program detailed at the local government units.

Once the typhoon reaches the Philippine area of responsibility, the DSWD’s Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices would be well prepared to deal with its effects, Soliman said.

Soliman has also instructed all DSWD offices in Regions IV-B, V, VI, VII and VIII to intensify their coordination with the municiapl social welfare offices.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) also declared its preparedness. PRC chairman Richard Gordon said rescue equipment, rubber boats, generator sets, fuel and vehicles will be on standby for possible operation or deployment.

“Let us all continue to monitor, coordinate and report status of evacuees, overflow of dams, landslides, flooding incidents and general conditions to the PRC National Headquarters Operation Center,” Gordon said. – Jaime Laude, Evelyn Macairan, Shiela Crisostomo, Jonathan Carson, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Non Alquitran, Celso Amo, Cet Dematera, Edith Regalado