Pablo intensifies as it enters Western Visayas

Pagasa has raised Public Storm Signal No. 3 over Iloilo as of 4 p.m. yesterday as typhoon Pablo entered Western Visayas.

According to Pagasa’s website, the eye of Pablo was located at 60 km southeast of Dumaguete City.

It has maximum sustained winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 196 kph and is moving towards the west northwest direction.

Also under signal no. 3 are Southern Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Guimaras and Antique, all in Western Visayas.

The same storm signal is raised over northern Palawan, Calamian Group of Islands, Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte.

Storm Signal No. 2 was raised over the rest of Palawan, Aklan, Capiz, rest of Cebu including Camotes Islands, the rest of Negros Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur including Sibugay and Camiguin.

Storm Signal No. 1 was raised over Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Siargao, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Pagasa warned residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals to be on alert against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal 3 and signal 2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by the typhoon.

Fishing boats and other sea vessels are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

CLASS, TRIPS SUSPENDED

Meanwhile, classes in the pre-school, elementary and high school were suspended as Iloilo City braces for strong wings and incessant rains.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog made the announcement yesterday morning when the city, Guimaras, Capiz and Negros Occidental were earlier placed under Signal No. 2.

Ferry, fast crafts, and sea vessel operations in Western Visayas except for motor bancas plying the plying the Caticlan-Boracay in Malay, Aklan and Iloilo-Guimaras and vice versa, were suspended, too.

According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)–WV commander Commodore Athelo Ybañez, there are around 800 stranded passengers in Iloilo.

It was gathered that most of those stranded are passengers of 2Go’s St. Leo the Great that came from Manila and was bound to Iloilo and Bacolod.

Around 600 passengers stayed at the Iloilo Port Terminal.

Some of those stranded are drivers and crew of vehicles of Roll On-Roll Off at Dumangas Port in Iloilo.

Ybañez said that fishermen of bancas and motor boats plying Capiz-Masbate sought shelter with their family and friends.

HEIGHTENED ALERT

Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., director of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO) 6, ordered all police units to enhance security preparations and readiness for search and rescue operations.

He also reminded all police field commanders to closely coordinate with local disaster risk reduction management councils and discuss contingency plans with local government units.

All police uniformed personnel of PRO6 were also directed to wear their SAR uniform in order to be ready to respond to calls for police assistance.

Meanwhile, Cruz enjoined the public to monitor the updates on weather conditions through advisories on radio and TV.

“Kailangan po ang bawat isa ay maging mapagmatyag at alerto sa lahat ng oras para maiwasan ang sakuna na dala ng bagyong ito,” the top cop said.

He also encouraged those who have mobile phones to keep their battery full and to keep the hotline numbers of their local police and DRRMCs.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has instructed all LGUs through their respective LDRRMCs, to ensure public safety, carry out emergency measures during and in the aftermath of calamity and put up incident command centers.

For assistance, he told the LGUs to Patrol 117 (People’s Action Team Responding On-Line) which is 24/7 by calling (033) 3000-544, (033) 3000-652 to 53, (033) 509-9611 or emailing to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

As a response, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. ordered the establishment of a 24-hour Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) operations center at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

Six dumptrucks of the provincial government were placed on standby in front of the Provincial Capitol since yesterday.

PDRRMC executive director Jerry Bionat said the operations center is constantly in touch with the municipalities through the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC).

CROPS MONITORED

Department of Agriculture 6 (DA-6) director Larry Nacionales also said they have already established a command center at their regional office in Duran, Iloilo City to monitor all harvestable and standing crops in whole six provinces that could be threatened by the inclement weather.

Nacionales said wide harvestable areas of palay and corn could be found in province of Negros Occidental followed by Iloilo and Antique, respectively.

Once there will be reported agricultural damages, Nacionales said their office will assess and validate the damages. Upon validation, the director said they are willing to extend assistance of ‘binhi’ to these affected farmers.

SUFFICIENT SUPPLY

The Department of Trade and Industry Iloilo provincial office has assured availability of sufficient supply of basic commodities.

Malones said that they checked the business establishments’ supply of basic commodities and “they assured sufficient supply of basic commodities and are sold based on the suggested retail price or SRP”.

Malones noted that prices of some basic needs during emergencies like instant noodles and sardines are steady, and he cited as example a pack of noodles which he said could be bought between P6.75 to P7.50.

“Our agency is maintaining our monitoring activities on commodities covered under RA R.A. 7581 or the Price Act, and the inventory levels of the commodities are sufficient in our business establishments here,” Malones said.*with DILG/PNA/PIA