BY AARON RECUENCO, NINO LUCES, ELLALYN RUIZ
Police commanders in Bicol region and other parts of Luzon and the Visayas that are expected to be hit or affected by tropical storm “Quinta” were ordered to assist in the disaster preparedness and other safety measures of the Local Government Units (LGUs).
Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said local police commanders should be in constant coordination with the LGUs, being members of the local disaster and risk reduction and management councils in order to ensure readiness in providing any form of assistance.
“Quinta”, which now packs maximum winds of 75 kilometer per hour and gustiness of up to 90 kph, was moving closer to Albay, Catanduanes and Sorsogon as of 8 a.m. on Sunday.
Storm signals were hoisted over Bicol region, Southern Tagalog region, Central Luzon, and some parts of the Visayas.
In situations like natural calamities, PNP spokesman Col. Ysmael Yu said regional commanders and National Support Unit commanders are expected to come up with disaster response plans depending on the situation on the ground. The disaster response plans include deployment of personnel and prepositioning of equipment for search and rescue and road-clearing operations assistance.
THOUSANDS EVACUATED
Around 1,800 individuals or 532 families have been evacuated as typhoon “Quinta” was expected to hit Bicol region.
Based from the latest record of the Office Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol, 521 families or 1,747 individuals have been evacuated in Guinobatan town in Albay province and 11 families or 42 persons in Canaman town in Camarines Sur province as of 7 a.m. on Sunday.
These evacuees were brought to four different evacuation centers in the region.
Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro of Tabaco City has issued order early Sunday morning that those residents living in flood, landslide, and mudflow-threatened areas should be evacuated at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, according to OCD-Bicol, there are 662 passengers, 283 trucks, 13 light vehicles, and 29 sea craft were stranded in different ports in Bicol region.
“Quinta” (international name “Molave”) intensified into a severe tropical storm hours before its landfall over Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon between Sunday afternoon and evening.
In its severe weather bulletin issued at 11 a.m. Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration raised Signal No. 2 over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, including Burias and Ticao Islands, central and southern portions of Quezon (Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Dolores, Candelaria, Tiaong, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tayabas City, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Perez, Alabat, Calauag, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Plaridel, Gumaca, Unisan, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Catanauan, Gen. Luna, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres, and San Francisco), Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island, and Northern Samar.
These areas may experience 61 to 120 kilometer per hour winds in 24 hours.
Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Metro Manila, the rest of Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, southern part of Zambales (San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso, Castillejos, Subic, San Antonio, Olongapo City, Botolan, and Cabangan), Calamian Islands, northern part of Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, Tagapul-an, Sto. Nino, Almagro, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, San Jose de Buan, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, San Jorge, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, and Paranas), northern part of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Dolores, Can-Avid, and Taft), northern part of Capiz (Sapi-An, Ivisan, Roxas City, Panay, Pilar, Pontevedra, and President Roxas), Aklan, northern part of Antique (Caluya, Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, and Culasi), and northeastern part of Iloilo (Batad, Balasan, Estancia, and Carles).
These areas may experience 30 to 60 kph winds or intermittent rains in at least 36 hours.
