MANILA, Philippines - A total of 33 provinces or 231 municipalities are prone to floods and landslides because of the heavy rains caused by typhoon “Ineng,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Thursday.
NDRRMC Executive Director Alexander Pama said the information was based on the forecast models of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
“This (warning) was based on the volume of rains as well as the expected amount of rainfall,” Pama said.
“These areas will not receive the same amount of rainfall. We placed emphasis on municipalities that are flood prone, those near the river basins and places that are prone to landslides,” he added.
However, Pama said the number of vulnerable provinces may still change depending on the movement and intensity of the typhoon.
The 33 provinces prone to flash floods and landslides are Basilan and Lanao del Sur in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Negros Occidental in Negros Island Region; Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Ilocos region; Batanes, Cagayan, and Nueva Vizcaya in Cagayan Valley; Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales in Central Luzon; Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro in Mimaropa region; Zamboanga del Sur in Zamboanga Peninsula; Albay and Sorsogon in Bicol; Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo in Western Visayas; Misamis Occidental in Northern Mindanao; and Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental in the Davao region.
PAGASA weather division chief Esperanza Cayanan said 14 municipalities may experience storm surge namely Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte and Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Buguey, Gonzaga, Sta. Ana, Palui Island, Calayan Island, and Babuyan Island in Cagayan.
Pama said local governments have been given hazard maps to help them plan their response measures.
“Ordinary residents should also prepare. When authorities ask them to evacuate, they should prepare their bags, hampers or any container for their belongings,” he said.
Pama said a total of 202 persons or 70 families have been preemptively evacuated in Gonzaga, Cagayan.
Regional civil defense officers in Ilocos, Cagayan and Cordillera as well as the NDRRMC Operations Center have been placed on red alert.
Pama said the critical period for the typhoon is from Friday evening to Sunday night.
“But we should not be complacent on Sunday,” he said, adding that the public should continue to monitor typhoon updates after the critical period.