LGUs along ‘Pepeng’s’ path told to prepare for forced evacuations

Malacañang on Thursday urged local government units that are in the path of supertyphoon “Pepeng" to prepare for possible forced evacuation of residents in villages that may be at risk. Categorized as a severe typhoon, Pepeng (international codename: Parma) is feared to caused widespread destruction in northern Luzon. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, Pepeng was located at 440 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar and was headed west-northwest in the general direction of Isabela province in northeastern Luzon. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
At its current speed, it was estimated to be 100 km northeast of Virac in Catanduanes on Friday afternoon and would make landfall along the borders of Aurora and Isabela provinces on Saturday morning. On Saturday afternoon, it is expected to be in the vicinity of Mountain Province and on Sunday afternoon, about 190 km northwest of Laoag City as it exits into the South China Sea. Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said once the weather bureau detects Pepeng's specific pathway, “the LGUs must pursue the forced evacuation." Golez said Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is in the provinces to prepare local officials for Pepeng and pre-position rescue teams and equipment. He said while Pepeng will not directly hit Metro Manila, which is still reeling from floods and landslides caused by tropical storm "Ondoy," but it might aggravate flooding. He said there is no more major rescue operation in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces because the activities have shifted to relief and rehabilitation. Laguna de Bay As Pepeng continued getting closer, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) warned residents along the coasts of Laguna de Bay to brace for more floods in case the typhoon spawns more rains in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces such as Laguna and Rizal. While the expected path of the typhoon is way up north, Pagasa said it could spawn rains over a wide area. More rains could “cause more flooding and submerge wetlands," said LLDA general manager Edgar Manda in a text message to Palace officials. He said the water level of the country’s biggest lake is at an “all time high." Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando said places that are currently flooded are in for a long wait before the water level of the lake subsides. Hazard mapping Teodoro, who chairs the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), said agencies and LGUs should stockpile relief goods and place rescuers on standby so as not to be caught flat-footed. Golez said the experience from Ondoy makes government more prepared. “Because of our experience, we can always say the country is more prepared, but it depends on what kind of disaster the country will face. We never imagined what happened in Metro Manila. It's not in our contingency planning. With this experience, we can gear up to be prepared for this kind of experience. Next time another Ondoy comes to Metro Manila, we can say we are prepared," he said. Golez said it will also now be easier for local officials to pinpoint the dangerous areas because the environment and science departments have conducted hazard mapping on about 80 percent of the country. “The local officials know which areas to look out for. They know the dangerous and safe areas. The order was to identify as early as now the possible evacuation centers so people will know where to go just in case. Every province and city will have their own rescue team which are on standby alert," he said. - GMANews.TV