THE President suspended work in government offices and classes in schools for Monday (September 26) in eight Luzon regions as the main island reeled from the strong winds and rains of Supertyphoon “Karding” (international code name Noru).
The Department of Energy (DOE) convened stakeholders on Sunday to discuss preparations in the oil and energy sector as more areas in Luzon were placed under Signal No. 5.
The military mobilized its equipment and forces for disaster response operations ahead of Karding’s expected landfall in Quezon province on Sunday night, as President Marcos Jr. approved the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to suspend classes in schools and government work on Monday.
The provinces of Bulacan, Aurora, Quezon and Nueva Ecija are already under tropical cyclone wind signal number 5 due to the super typhoon, the effects of which have also been felt in the other parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila and Bicol region.
PBBM suspends govt work, classes
In a brief statement on Sunday, Press Secretary Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles confirmed Marcos approved the NDRRMC recommendation for the suspension.
NDRRMC proposed the suspension to take effect on September 26, 2022 in Regions 1, 2, 3, 5 as well as in the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Calabarzon and Mimaropa.
It will cover all government offices, except those engaged in frontline services, as well as classes in public schools at all levels.
NDRRMC said the suspension will prevent any untoward incidents and will ensure the safety of the general public.
Government mobilization
Marcos said the government is now mobilizing relevant agencies to respond to the devastation caused by Supertyphoon “Karding.”
Marcos issued the statement a fewhours after arriving in the country from his working visit in the United States last week.
He is now coordinating with the NDRRMC and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to closely monitor the movement and impact of the super typhoon nationwide.
“The President is also in constant communication with DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) Secretary Benhur Abalos for possible evacuation especially in low-lying areas that are prone to flooding,” the Office of the Press Secretary said, and with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Agriculture (DA).
Army deploys
The Army, through the 7th Infantry Division (7th ID) under Major Gen. Andrew Costelo—area of responsibility in Central Luzon and parts of Northern Luzon—and the 525th Engineer Combat Battalion (525ECB) have deployed equipment and personnel in affected areas.
The 69th Infantry Battalion, 70th Infantry Battalion, 71st Infantry Battalion and 84th Infantry Battalion of 7ID marshalled disaster response teams and deployed them to Central Luzon.
Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. assured the operational readiness of Army’s HADR [humanitarian and disaster response] teams in assisting residents in calamity-stricken communities.
Air and naval assets are also on standby for deployment as soon as the weather clears for aerial assessment, transport and evacuation operations.
The Philippine Coast Guard put on standby all of its units and disaster response groups in all of the province in Central Luzon, Bicol region and Metro Manila.
Impact on power
DOE Undersecretary William Fuentebella said the agency is in close coordination with the National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Power Corp. (NPC), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), among others.
“We have protocols in place. There is strict monitoring happening. As far as the downstream oil industry is concerned, the DOE is coordinating with the various depots to bulk storage facilities up to retail outlets to ensure supply of petroleum products,” he said.
According to the NGCP, there is already one 230 kiloVolt (kV) transmission line unavailable as of 5pm. NGCP mobilized its line crews and was conducting patrols to inspect and repair the affected line.
Meralco said its systems and personnel are ready to immediately respond to power outages.
“As a 24–hour service company, we are ready to respond to these types of emergency. Our crews are on standby to attend to any trouble that may affect our facilities in areas that might be hit by the typhoon,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said.
Signal 5
More areas in Luzon were placed under Tropical Cyclone Signal (TCWS) No. 5 on Sunday as “Karding” intensified, further endangering Polilio Islands, the state weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the areas of Polillo Islands, the extreme northern portion of Quezon, northern and central portions of General Nakar, northeastern portion of Infanta Dingalan, Aurora and the eastern portion of Bulacan including Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, and the southeastern portion of General Tinio in Nueva Ecija are under TCWS No. 5.
TCWS No. 4 is hoisted over the Calaguas Islands, the southern portion of Aurora (San Luis, Baler, Maria Aurora), the northern portion of Quezon (the rest of General Nakar, the rest of Infanta, Real), the northern portion of Metro Manila (Marikina, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, and Quezon City), the central and southern portion of Nueva Ecija (Gabaldon, the rest of General Tinio, City of Gapan, Peñaranda), the rest of Bulacan, Pampanga, the northern and central portions of Rizal (Rodriguez, City of Antipolo, Tanay, San Mateo, Baras), the southeastern portion of Tarlac (La Paz, Concepcion), and the extreme northern portion of Laguna (Famy, Siniloan, Santa Maria, Pangil)
PAGASA said heavy damage to high-risk and medium risk structures may occur, while considerable damage to structures of light materials are also expected.
In these areas, the situation is potentially very destructive to the community and PAGASA recommended that all travels and outdoor activities be cancelled, and those highly at risk be evacuated to safer shelters.
Heavy rainfall is expected in affected areas
PAGASA said areas under Wind Signal No. 4 and No.5 will experience winds peaking at typhoon-force strength, while winds may reach storm-force in strength within any of the areas where Wind Signal No. 3 is hoisted.
Pagasa also warned of a high to very high risk of storm surge of more than 3 meters in height in the low-lying areas.
At least 131 families or 458 individuals have been affected as of Sunday as Karding intensified into a supertyphoon. Filipinos were warned of massive rainfall, similiar to Typhoons Ondoy and Ulysses several years ago that turned a large area of Luzon, including Metro Manila, into a big swamp. Ondoy’s 13th anniversary is being marked on September 26.
Karding, seen to make a landfall in Aurora or northern portion of Quezon on Sunday night, may force weather officials to hoist signal number 5 in severely threatened areas, NDRRMC said in a virtual conference with its head, Department of National Defense Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr.
The NDRRMC said several evacuation centers have also been readied in perennially flood-threatened Marikina city, owing to the Marikina River.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau warned 8,728 barangays are susceptible to flooding as the government braced for what might be the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year.
Moderate to high risk of storm surge is also possible over Camarines Norte, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bulacan, the northern portion of Metro Manila, the southern portion of La Union, and the rest of Quezon.
“The combined effects of storm surge and high waves breaking along the coast may cause life-threatening and damaging inundation or flooding,” Pagasa warned.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has alerted all units and stations to be on alert for the possible effects of Karding.
“We ask residents living in danger zones to adhere to calls for evacuation whenever necessary,” Azurin said. Reports by Rene Acosta, Samuel P. Medenilla, Lenie Lectura and Jonathan Mayuga
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza