PEOPLE...

Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard had a meeting where they discussed the preparations for Typhoon Yolanda’s landfall.

“We have already activated the Operation Centers in all municipalities to make the responders available for mobilization. It is also up to the local DRRM offices to assess if there is a need to conduct pre-emptive evacuation in their respective areas. Basically, all the members of the council already know their roles and we are relying on the cooperation of the public to mitigate the risks of this typhoon,” Rirao added.

The DOST national office through its weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) predicted that Typhoon Yolanda will make its landfall tomorrow morning with maximum sustained speeds of around 120 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness of up to 150 kph and a diameter of 600 kilometers.

While the effects of the typhoon will be felt nationwide, DOST forecasts that the hard hit areas will include Eastern Samar, the entire Visayas Region and some parts of Northern Mindanao and Southern Luzon.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo bared that the typhoon may intensify once it enters the Philippine area-of responsibility as it may pick up wind speeds of up to 200 kph. He added that with this wind speed, it could uproot large trees and blow off houses built with light materials. RSA