The Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is on alert as super typhoon “Ofel” is expected to make landfall in this province or Isabela on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 14.
Also on alert for Ofel is the Ilocos Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
AUTHORITIES urge people in Cagayan to evacuate as tropical cyclone 'Ofel' approaches.
Mia Carbonel, spokesperson of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Region 2, said they and provincial and local government units and the local disaster risk reduction and management office have joined hands to ensure pre-emptive and forced evacuation of people in the path of the tropical cyclone to ensure their safety.
Gov. Manuel Mamba, following the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, suspended classes on all levels and work in government offices due to Ofel on Thursday.
However, work in agencies involved in relief and disaster response operations remain. Work in private establishments were left to the discretion of management.
The Ilocos Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Emergency Operations Center is on red alert status effective 8 a.m. Thursday.
It also activated the Charlie Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) protocol, which indicates high risk.
Under a red alert status, the RDRRMC-1 said measures such as warning and advisories will regularly be issued, preparedness directives cascaded, all response clusters activated, work and class suspension in effect, communities in high-risk areas preemptively evacuated, and rapid deployment teams are deployed in strategic areas.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration warned people in northeastern Cagayan to exercise caution as Ofel is expected to make landfall in the towns of Santa and Cagayan.
These two municipalities are under signal No. 5 and violent weather conditions are expected in these areas.
Areas in the Ilocos region under signal No. 3 are Pagudpud, Adams, and Dumalneg in Ilocos Norte; the rest of Ilocos Norte is under signal No. 2; and Ilocos Sur and Luna, Sudipen, Bangar, Santol, San Gabriel, Bagulin, Bacnotan, Balaoan, and San Juan in La Union is under signal No.1.