‘Tisoy’ heads towards Bicol Region; cyclone warnings up in 23 areas

Tropical cyclone warnings were raised in at least 23 areas yesterday as typhoon “Tisoy” (international name “Kammuri”) headed for a direct hit on Bicol Region by Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

Before Sunday noon, the Philippine

Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated “Tisoy’s” location at 705 kilometers (km) east of Virac, Catand

uanes. It continued to move west toward Bicol Region at a faster rate of 25 kilometers per hour (kph).

It has slightly weakened with maximum sustained winds of 140 kph and gustiness of up to 170 kph on Sunday, from 150 kph maximum winds and gusts up to 185 kph last Saturday.

PAGASA weather forecasting section chief Robert Sawi attributed the weakening of “Tisoy” to the intrusion of cold air coming from the northeast monsoon or “amihan.”

“Eventually after its landfall, we can observe a gradual decrease in ‘Tisoy’s’ intensity,” Sawi said.

PAGASA weather division chief Esperanza Cayanan however said “Tisoy” remains a strong cyclone and could still pose serious threat in areas that will be directly affected by the passing of the cyclone.

The huge circulation of “Tisoy” may bring significant impact on Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas, and Bicol Region from Monday until Tuesday.

PAGASA weather specialist Chris Perez said Signal No. 2 has been hoisted over Catanduanes, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar on Sunday.

Signal No. 1 was raised in Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Burias and Ticao Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, northern Iloilo (Ajuy, Anilao, Balasan, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Bingawan, Calinog, Carles, Concepcion, Dingle, Duenas, Estancia, Lambunao, Lemery, Passi City, San Dionisio, San Enrique, San Rafael and Sara), northern Antique (Culasi, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste and Tibiao), northern Negros Occidental (Cadiz City, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Escalante City, Manapla, Sagay City, Silay City, Toboso and Victorias City), northern Cebu (Asturias, Bantayan, Bogo City, Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Daanbantayan, Danao City, Madridejos, Medellin, Pilar, Poro, San Francisco, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Tuburan and Tudela), Samar, Biliran, Camotes Island, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Dinagat Islands.

Perez said PAGASA may also raise Signal No. 1 over Aurora, eastern Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Metro Manila, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Guimaras, and the rest of Antique and Iloilo on Sunday.

On Monday, occasional to frequent heavy rains may already prevail over Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Biliran, while moderate to occasional heavy rains can be felt in Romblon, Marinduque, and Quezon.

By Tuesday, frequent to continuous heavy rains will likely affect Metro Manila, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan.

Meanwhile, moderate to occasional heavy rains may persist over Aklan, Capiz, northern portion of Antique, and the rest of Luzon on Tuesday.

Flood advisories up

PAGASA has issued general flood advisories, particularly in Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, as these areas will be the first ones to feel the direct impact of typhoon Tisoy.

PAGASA hydrologist Sonia Serrano said watercourses likely to be affected are Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, Albay, Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar.

Likewise, the weather bureau warned that sea travel is risky for small sea crafts, over the seaboards of areas with tropical cyclone warnings, northern and western coasts of Northern Luzon, and eastern coastlines of the country due to rough sea condition.

Should it maintain its current track, Perez said typhoon “Tisoy” will already be outside the landmass or over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday, and eventually leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday.

PNP on alert

Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, officerin-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered all police commanders in areas located at the path of typhoon Kammuri to be on the alert and available for pre-emptive evacuation and other disaster response.

“I ordered all police commanders to coordinate with local government units and the local offices of the Office of Civil Defense on the specific assistance that the police could provide to ensure public safety,” said Gamboa.

The police assistance, he said, could be manpower or other resources that the local police stations could provide such as vehicles and communication equipment.

Gamboa said he also instructed police commanders to make sure that the families and relatives of their men are secured first.

Lahar flow warnings

Communities near the surrounding slopes of Mayon Volcano in Albay were warned of possible lahar flows and landslides due to moderate to heavy rains that may be spawned by typhoon “Tisoy” over the Bicol Region this week.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) urged residents living in pre-determined zones of lahar hazards in Mayon Volcano

to remain vigilant and prepared.

Phivolcs advised that the bulk of erodible pyroclastic density current deposits occupy the watershed areas of the Miisi, Mabinit, Buyuan, and Basud channels.

It warned of potential lahars and sediment-laden stream flows on all river channels draining the slopes of Mayon Volcano, particularly the Miisi, Mabinit, Matan-ag, Basud, MasarawagManinila and Quirangay Channels, that may be generated by heavy rainfall brought about by Tisoy.

LGUs told to stay in place

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday reminded concerned local officials not to leave their respective territories during all disasters, citing an earlier memorandum signed by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.

The DILG noted that “all foreign travel authorities and leaves of absence of local government officials of affected localities are recalled during such emergencies or calamities.”

Año said the directive was issued to ensure that local officials will not be “missing in action” during times of calamity.

Officials and employees covered by the ban include mayors and vice mayors, councilors, and department heads with important roles in disaster response such as the local disaster risk reduction management officer.

Thousands set to evacuate in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay –Thousands of families in Albay are set to evacuate on Monday as “Tisoy” threatens the province with strong winds, lahar, flooding, and storm surge.

The Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) said at least 307,493 people or 58,614 are set to evacuate; 98,732 individuals or 21,620 families are affected by landslide; 106,211 individuals or 25,770 families by mudflow or lahar; 134,437 people or 27,018 families by storm surge and tsunami; and 361,197 individuals or 72,968 families by wind.

Food packs

TACLOBAN CITY - A total of 21,418 prepositioned family food packs (FFP) are on standby, and are ready fordistribution.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 8 said at least 1000 FFP were also prepositioned in Northern Samar and another 800 packs in Eastern Samar. Each FFP contains 6 kgs. of rice, 4 cans of corned beef, 4 cans of meat/beef loaf, and 6 sachets of coffee.

The DSWD also has an additional stockpile of 52 sacks of rice, 182,828 sachets of coffee, 32,236 cans of 150g corned beef, 69 cans of 100g corned beef, 11,100 cans of 150g beef loaf, and 22,709 cans of 100g beef loaf. (With reports from Chito Chavez, Nino N. Luces, and Marie Tonette Marticio)