Storm signals up as Ineng nears

MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau yesterday raised storm warning signals over provinces in Northern Luzon as Typhoon Ineng (international name Goni) drew closer to the area.

As of 5 p.m., signal No. 2 was hoisted over the Batanes group of islands and Cagayan, including Calayan and the Babuyan island group.

These areas can expect strong winds of up to 61 to 120 kilometers per hour within the next 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Signal No. 1 was raised over Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra and Ilocos Norte. These areas can expect winds of 30 to 60 kph within 36 hours.

Ineng was spotted at 690 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan as of 4 p.m. yesterday, packing winds of 180 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph.

It was forecast to move westward at 20 kph.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said areas in Northern Luzon would start experiencing stormy weather this afternoon as Ineng moves closer to the Batanes-Taiwan area.

Ineng – the ninth tropical cyclone to enter the country this year and the second weather disturbance this month – was expected to bring moderate to heavy rains within its 600-km diameter.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon, which was being enhanced by Ineng, continued to dump rains over Palawan and the Visayas yesterday.

Aurelio said monsoon rains would affect Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila, and Western Mindanao starting today until early next week.

He also warned fishermen and operators of small sea vessels against going out to the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon and of Northern and Eastern Samar due to big waves generated by Ineng and the southwest monsoon.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Alexander Pama said the operation center’s alert status has been upgraded to red from blue yesterday noon.

A red alert places all disaster management personnel on standby to ensure enough manpower in case of emergency.

Local units were advised to undertake precautionary measures and initiate pre-emptive evacuation of families in low-lying and mountainous areas if necessary.

 The military, for its part, ordered all unified commands to monitor landslide- and flood-prone areas.

Field units were also alerted for the possible conduct of disaster response operations.

Flags

In a recently issued memorandum, Education Secretary Armin Luistro reminded school officials to abide by Republic Act 8491, or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

Under the law, the Philippine flag should not be raised when the weather is inclement, defined as when a typhoon signal is raised in the locality.

However, flags that were already raised should not be lowered, despite the inclement weather, until the end of the day.

Based on the law, the flag shall be raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset.

“It shall be on the mast at the start of official office hours, shall remain flying throughout the day,” it added. – With Janvic Mateo, Alexis Romero