from Pagasa website
The state weather bureau on Monday advised residents in certain parts of Luzon to prepare for Typhoon Mangkhut, which will be locally named “Ompong” when it enters the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday afternoon.
“Habang wala pa ay maghanda na po tayo..alamin ang ligtas na lugar kung sakaling may malalakas na ulan na maaring magdulot ng pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa,” weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said in a Facebook video.
Effects of the typhoon will be felt by Thursday or Friday in Northern and Central Luzon.
“Inaasahan ang epekto nito pagdating ng Huwebes at Biyernes dito sa Northern Luzon at ilang bahagi ng Central Luzon,” Aurelio said.
Mangkhut was spotted 2,255 kilometers east of Southern Luzon. It packs maximum sustained winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It was moving westward at 35 kph.
It would like make landfall over Cagayan-Batanes area, according to Pagasa.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Neneng will bring occasional rains with gusty winds over Batanes.
Cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are likely over Babuyan Group of Islands, Ilocos provinces, Cordillera, and Cagayan Valley, Pagasa said.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience thunderstorms, Pagasa added.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said its regional offices have issued advisories and warnings to local government units likely to be affected by the oncoming typhoon to undertake necessary precautions.
“Heavy rains directly associated with (typhoon) Mangkhut (internationan name) are possible by Friday, 14 September 2018, over Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Batanes, and Babuyan Group of Islands,” the NDRRMC noted.
The agency then advised residents from these areas to heed the advice of their respective local leaders.
“The Cagayan Valley Region in particular has ensured the implementation of no-sail and no fishing zone in preparation for the effects of the typhoon,” the NDRRMC said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on the other hand, has prepared P1.7 billion worth of standby funds and supplies for the response and relief efforts until the weather improves.
Tourists were also told to postpone activities like surfing, caving, and mountaineering in areas likely to be affected by Ompong. /kga