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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 275 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES NOVEMBER 17, 2024
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SUPER TYPHOON’S WRATH.
Large waves break along a seawall in Legaspi City, Albay on Saturday, ahead of the expected landfall in Catanduanes of Super Typhoon ‘Pepito.’ Lower left photo shows residents of Polanqui town in Albay temporarily staying inside a mall. AFP / Facebook page of Barangay Ubaliw
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HOUSE LEADERS SEEK PROBE ON CASES VS. DRUG WAR COPS NEWS | A2
PH, INDONESIA EYE ‘MUTUALLY AGREED SOLUTION’ ON VELOSO NEWS | A3
MARCOS: ALL HANDS ON DECK; 10M ON PEPITO’S DEADLY PATH BRACE FOR SUPER TYPHOON’S WORST-CASE SCENARIO: STORM SURGES, FLOODING
By Charles Dantes
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RESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. directed all government agencies to brace for the worst-case scenario as Super Typhoon “Pepito” intensifies, with the Office of Civil Defense warning at least 10 million individuals could be affected. President Marcos and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro emphasized comprehensive preparedness not only for areas directly in Pepito’s path but also for potentially affected regions. OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said personnel have been mobilized across Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Cala-
barzon, the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Cagayan, Ilocos, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. “We are instructed to conduct worst-case scenario planning,” Nepomuceno said. “It’s better to overprepare than fall short.” “Pepito” is the sixth typhoon to impact the country in a span of three
weeks, following storms “Kristine,” “Leon,” “Marce,” “Nika,” and “Ofel.” Evacuation centers remained operational, and the government has strategically deployed assets and personnel, prepositioning air, land, and sea resources in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and local government units, Nepomuceno said. “Yesterday, during a meeting at the Office of Civil Defense, President Marcos also ordered us to ensure that evacuation centers are in locations free from flood or landslide risks,” he said. The President also instructed authorities to conduct an inventory of existing evacuation centers, including schools used as temporary shel-
ters, and ensure new facilities are built in low-risk areas. Residents in coastal areas of the Ilocos Region, including Pangasinan and La Union provinces, as well as in Batangas, have evacuated following a storm surge advisory due to the super typhoon. Nepomuceno said he is also pushing for a long-term integrated and comprehensive solution per river basin to prevent massive flooding in the future. He said at least 18 major river basins must be prioritized, starting with the Bicol River Basin as directed by President Marcos. “Let’s also take a closer look at the Cagayan River Basin and in Pasig, the Marikina River Basin, which can cause major damage,” he said
As this developed, Quick Response Assets composed of more than 1,300 equipment and nearly 7,000 personnel have been prepositioned in all regions in Luzon and Eastern Visayas, the Department of Public Works and Highways said. In a statement, the DPWH said its Disaster and Incident Management Teams are also on standby in these areas. The Department of Health, on the other hand, is on “code white alert” – ready to deploy emergency response teams amid the impending onslaught of “Pepito” this weekend. Health emergency response teams are likewise ready for deployment to evacuation centers, particularly in Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Cordillera region, and Metro Manila.
BICOL WARNED OF ‘POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC, LIFE-THREATENING’ SITUATION
NEW QUEEN KNOWN TODAY.
By Ratziel San Juan, Rex Espiritu, Pot Chavez and Vito Barcelo
Philippine bet Chelsea Manalo beams in her Manny Halasan gown ahead of the Miss Universe coronation Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila time) in Mexico.
BICOL residents were warned to prepare for a “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening situation” as Super Typhoon “Pepito” intensified further, with the highest storm signal no. 5 raised over Catanduanes and the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion). Moving west-northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph), the center of its eye was last estimated 120 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph. “Pepito is more likely to make
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landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes by Saturday night or Sunday early morning,” state weather bureau PAGASA said. “However, considering the limits of the forecast confidence cone, a landfall scenario over the eastern coast of Camarines Sur or Albay during the same time frame (if it moves slightly south of forecast track), or along the eastern coast of Quezon or Aurora tomorrow afternoon or evening remains (if it moves slightly north of forecast track) not ruled out.” The super typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Monday. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Saturday urged all residents of lowlying and coastal areas of 23 provinces as well as Metro Manila to prepare for
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storm surges which could reach as high as five to seven meters. “This is no joke. Evacuate now,” said Remulla in a Facebook post. “This early, we are asking everyone in the coastal barangays in the provinces to evacuate their people from 10 meters aways from the sea. Possible storm surge could be higher than a house once it reaches the coast,” he added. Several areas in the Bicol region already experienced storm surges ahead of Pepito’s landfall, the Office of Civil Defense Region 5 said Saturday. “There were already areas affected by storm surges – Catanduanes, Tiwi, Malinao, Rapu-Rapu, and Legazpi City,” OCD Region 5 Director Claudio Yucot said in an
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interview on dzBB. Evacuation centers were filling up in Catanduanes, with the state weather forecaster warning of “widespread incidents of severe flooding and landslides.” More than 400 people were squeezed into the provincial government building in the capital Virac, with new arrivals being sent to a gymnasium, provincial disaster officer Roberto Monterola said. In Northern Samar province, disaster officer Rei Josiah Echano lamented damage caused by typhoons was the root cause of poverty in the region. “Whenever there’s a typhoon like this, it brings us back to the mediaeval era, we go (back) to square one,” Echano said. With AFP
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