CV agencies brace for typhoon ‘Lawin’

The current weather disturbance may be heading for Luzon, but disaster rescue and response units in Central Visayas are not being complacent.

Typhoon ‘Lawin’ was forecast to spare Central Visayas, but the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 still readied its relief supplies in case neighboring regions would need assistance or worse, the typhoon might change course.

DSWD-7 disaster focal person Artemia Degamo told reporters yesterday that this scheme is in accordance with the directive from the agency’s head office.

The DSWD has augmented its emergency response capacity, particularly in addressing food security needs, by establishing just this year the Visayas Disaster Response Center in Mandaue City, Cebu.

The center has a mechanized production system that can produce 50,000 family food packs in a day and can feed 250,000 people for three days.

“If other regional offices need augmentation assistance, our VDRC has 50,000 food packs available,” said Degamo.

The center intended for the entire Visayas region was opened formally on April 2016 to support large-scale humanitarian relief operations and speed up the distribution of assistance in times of natural disasters such as typhoons.

Degamo added that officials within the region may also request should they need food assistance. The Cebu City-based satellite warehouse of DSWD-7 has 30,000 family food packs stored in it.

The regional office also has an available standby fund of P3 million.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, typhoon ‘Lawin’ was spotted 930 kilometers east of Tayabas City, Quezon province, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Lawin (international name Haima) is the 12th tropical cyclone that has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and has been categorized as typhoon with maximum sustained wind of up to 185 kilometers per hour.

PAGASA reported that the typhoon maintained its strength and speed as it continued to move towards extreme northern Luzon but it is expected to intensify further before making a landfall.

Based on its forecasting, PAGASA noted that the typhoon may hit Cagayan province first when it reaches mainland tomorrow (October 20) early morning and may bring moderate or heavy rainfall.

Still, the public is advised to keep on monitoring for updates and advisories as significant changes in the weather pattern may occur.

CITY PREPARATION

Meanwhile, the Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has also readied its response equipment such as chainsaw, stretchers, and ropes, among others, in preparation for the typhoon.

CDRRMC head Alvin Santillana said they are preparing for possible worst-case scenarios that might affect the city.

“Kaning among gibuhat nag-ready mi sa among equipment just to show our constituents they are safe and naa mi,” he assured.

However, Santillana added, this does not mean that the people will just depend on the preparations made by the city.

He said that aside from preparing goods, residents should also prune tall trees near their residence to prevent further damages, reminding them to heed any announcement for their safety.