The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised storm warning signal number 1 over Eastern Samar as of 5 p.m. yesterday. Residents in the area can expect winds of 30 to 60 kilometers per hour within the next 36 hours.
The Honolulu-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center upgraded Butchoy from tropical storm to typhoon yesterday morning after it registered winds of up to 70 knots or 130 kph.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the eye of the storm was spotted at 500 kilometers east-southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph.
Butchoy, the second tropical cyclone to enter the country this year, was forecast to move west-northwest at 11 kph.
PAGASA weather forecaster Mario Palafox said Butchoy slowed down to 11 kph from 20 kph last Thursday and continued to gather strength while over the Philippine Sea.
Palafox said Butchoy would start to enhance the southwest monsoon beginning today.
He said residents in the Visayas started to experience monsoon rains last night.
He said Butchoy’s radius expanded from 400 km to 450 km yesterday, affecting more areas in Luzon and the Visayas.
The storm was forecast to pour 15 to 25 millimeters per hour of rain, classified as heavy.
PAGASA warned fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out to the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Eastern Mindanao due to big waves generated by the southwest monsoon and Butchoy.
Rains are expected to continue until Tuesday as Butchoy exits the Philippine area of responsibility. Butchoy is predicted to be 330 km east of Borongan, Eastern Samar this afternoon; 410 km east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora tomorrow afternoon and 320 km southeast of Basco, Batanes by Monday afternoon.
Blue alert
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
(NDRRMC) has activated operation centers to monitor developments in
their respective areas and to address the needs of residents to be
affected by Butchoy.“We are still on blue alert because PAGASA has yet to raise storm signals,” said NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos.
A blue alert places half of disaster management personnel on standby. The alert level was raised to ensure availability of personnel who would respond to emergency situations.
Ramos said local disaster management offices have been ordered to relay the necessary warnings to provinces that may be hit by the storm.
The military has also ordered its field units to place key assets on standby for possible rescue operations.
The Army’s 9th division based in Bicol has alerted standby units in the 901st brigade.
Naval Forces Southern Luzon has also readied its disaster response teams and two gunboats docked in Legaspi City.
The Air Force’s Tactical Operations Group has also prepared its 10-man rescue team and a carrier truck.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has ordered regional directors to reactivate their respective disaster monitoring systems.
On the other hand, the Social Welfare department has alerted its quick response team for possible deployment to flood-hit areas.
The agency has also mobilized six social welfare teams and pre-positioned P3.44 million in standby funds and P9.21-million worth of relief supplies.
Localized suspension of classes
Robredo said school principals have the authority to suspend classes in their respective areas of responsibility during typhoons and flooding.
He said there are areas like Malabon that always experience flooding and local authorities should assess the situation and ensure the safety of students.
He also suggested to parents to first call the school principal for information on suspension of classes.
“There were cases when there’s heavy rain, roads are flooded and the mayor can declare suspension of classes in the entire locality from elementary, high school. If a mayor could not assess the situation, school authorities can make the declaration of the suspension of classes,” Robredo added.
