Storm Signal No. 2 raised over 3 provinces

DOST-PAGASA MTSAT-EIR Satellite Image for 12 mindight 21 Oct. 2009.

MANILA - The national weather bureau on Tuesday afternoon has raised storm signals over much of Northern and Northeast Luzon, as typhoon Ramil (international code name Lupit) lumbers towards the area.

As of 10 p.m., Ramil's center was spotted 680 kilometers east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 230 kph, said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin

The state weather agency said "Ramil" was moving west at 15 kilometers per hour.

The typhoon is estimated to be 360 kilometers east northeast of Aparri by Wednesday evening.

Public storm warning signal number 2 (areas experiencing winds between 60-100 kph) has earlier been raised over the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan (including the Calayan and Babuyan groups of islands), and Isabela.

Meanwhile, public storm warning signal number 1 remains hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Benguet, La Union, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, and northern Quezon (including Polilio Island).

Precautions vs landslides, flashfloods

Residents in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes under signals no. 2 and no. 1 are advised to take all the necessary precautionary measures against flashfloods and landslides, the PAGASA bulletin said.

Meanwhile, the bureau is advising those living along the coast in areas under signal no. 2 to be on alert against big waves generated by the typhoon.

The bureau also reported that strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the eastern seaborads of central and southern Luzon, with wind force between 55 to 68 kph.

The seas in these areas would be rough to very rough, with wave heights estimated to reach as high as 3.7 to 5.0 meters.

The bureau is advising fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.

3 dams under spilling ops

As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, the bureau's Flood Forecasting Branch (FFB) reported that 3 dams in Luzon - the San Roque, Pantabangan, and Magat dams - are still under spilling operations.

These 3 dams, however, have been experiencing decreasing water levels in their reservoirs and have been spilling water for several days in preparation for the heavy rains that might be dumped by "Ramil."

Two other dams - the Ambuklao and Binga - have their spillway gates temporarily closed due to an accident near their areas.

Meanwhile, an intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is currently affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The bureau said the whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

"Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast to North will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the Northwest to West with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms," the bureau also reported.

Cagayan stockpiles on relief goods

Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio said his province is ready for the onslaught of Typhoon Ramil which is expected to make landfall there on Thursday.

Speaking to the ABS-CBN News Channel, Antonio said evacuation centers have been activated and rescue vehicles like dump trucks and rubber boats are now on standby in different parts of the province.

The provincial government is monitoring 11 towns, which could be severely hit by Ramil.

Relief goods have been sent in advance to the town of Lallo as well as to the islands of Fuga, Babuyan, Claro, and Calayan.

"Maa-isolate sila, so how can we bring the food they need in the middle of the typhoon? So habang maaga pa, nagpadala na kami ng relief goods there," Edna Juinio, Cagayan Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, said.

Additional medicines reportedly have also been delivered to all 19 district hospitals in Cagayan.

Officials are also monitoring the water levels in Cagayan River.

If the river overflows, this reportedly could lead to flooding in Tuguegarao, Enrile, Solana, Amulung, and Alcala.

"If the weather will turn worse, we will effect pre-emptive evacuation. Kapag mag-umpisa na ang malakas na buhos ng ulan, we will start. The moment we effect pre-emptive evacuation, ‘andoon na ang dumptrucks to distribute relief goods," Antonio said.

Cagayan officials hope their early preparations for “Ramil” will pay off.

Pangasinan prepares

The people in Villasis, Pangasinan are already prepared to leave, once rain begins to fall.

They said they have packed their food and clothing, just in case they need to evacuate in an instant.

The immediate threat reportedly comes from a river nearby. When tropical depression "Pepeng" with its heavy rains pounded Pangasinan, the dike was breached and the floodwaters surged. Thirty houses were swept away.

Stockpiling of sandbags on the damaged part of the dike is also being rushed, although this reportedly is just a temporary remedy.

Ilocos Norte monitors lake

The Pangasinenses seem to be in a better situation however than the people in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

The problem here is that, the water in Paoay Lake has not subsided, after "Pepeng" dumped huge volumes of rain on it.

Should typhoon "Ramil" bring in more rains, it reportedly will not take long before the lake to overflow once again.

Benguet readies

In Camp 3, Tuba town in Benguet province meanwhile, authorities want to divert the flow of water in Bued River away from Kennon Road.

The solution the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) thought of is to put huge rocks in some parts of river.

With all these preparations in Northern Luzon including the Cordillera region, residents and authorities hope, they would be able to reduce the loss of life and damage, that "Ramil" may bring. With reports from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News; Cris Zuñiga, ABS-CBN Dagupan; and the ABS-CBN News Channel