Authorities have started preemptive evacuation in the Cordillera Administrative Region in preparation for the expected onslaught of severe tropical storm ‘Siony’ which weather experts is targeting the northern part of Luzon.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), in its latest forecast, stated that ‘Siony’ packs maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometer per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 115 kph.
“Severe tropical storm “Siony’ is forecasted to reach typhoon category with a peak intensity of 120 kph by tomorrow morning, November 6, as it passes the Batanes-Babuyan Islands area,” said Mark Timbal, spokesman of the Office of Civil Defense.
Timbal said a meeting was already conducted to discuss the preparations in order to cushion the impact of the weather disturbance to human lives.
Based on the discussion, preemptive evacuation would be conducted in areas that are prone to landslide and flashflood and prepositioning of food and non-food items, including medicine, for the would-be affected residents.
“Transport assets such as army trucks are on stand-by for possible augmentation to disaster operations as well as the Department of Public Works and Highways assets for clearing operations,” said Timbal.
He said medical teams from the Department of Health were already activated for possible deployment in hospitals.
“The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) already reported pre-emptive evacuation in flood- and landslide-prone in the provinces of Apayao, Kalinga, and Benguet,” said Timbal.
Pre-emptive evacuation, he said, is expected in areas susceptible to storm surge.
“There was also a directive to the local government units to stop mining activities, tourism activities, and quarrying,” he added.