Cagayan braces for ‘Ompong,’ early evacuations in coastal towns start

Residents in coastal towns in Cagayan are now being evacuated to higher grounds in anticipation of the onslaught of Typhoon “Ompong,” Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba said on Thursday.

Mamba said preemptive evacuations are being conducted in coastal areas in the region as coastal towns are vulnerable to storm surges.

Mamba said 13 barangays in Boguey, 12 barangays in Calayan and two barangays in Carwan are being evacuated to higher grounds.

“[If] worse comes to worst nakapag-prepare naman na po lahat yung mga nandyan sa coastal towns po natin at nagkakaroon na ng preemptive evacuation sa mga coastal towns,” Mamba said over an interview with Radio Inquirer.

“Kahit na papaano po we will always prepare for any contingency na kailangan gawin depende sa kung saan babagsak,” he added.

Mamba said disaster councils have already discussed contingency plans for calamity situations and are already prepositioning relief goods and conducting evacuations.

Mamba has called on the national government to send air support, particularly helicopters, even after the typhoon has passed to help them ferry residents from the island municipalities to the mainland in case of emergencies.

“Panawagan na lang ho namin coming from the national governmentt even after the typhoon mga air assets, helicopters para ma-evacuate namin yung mga emergencies namin. Kasi kailangan dalhin din sila, wala tayong malalaking hospital sa mga areas na yan para madala din sila sa mainland para mapagamot kung sakali,” Mamba said.

Typhoon “Ompong” entered the country Wednesday afternoon and is expected to make landfall in the northern tip of Cagayan on Sept. 15, Saturday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. /muf