Camarines Sur, Albay execs prepare as Pepito threatens Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY — In anticipation of Tropical Storm Man-yi, which will be named Pepito upon entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), local disaster management officials are intensifying preparations to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the storm is expected to enter PAR early Friday morning, Nov. 15. It may develop into a typhoon before reaching the Philippine landmass.

The region is expected to feel the storm’s initial effects by Saturday afternoon.

Camarines Sur Gov. Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte on Wednesday, Nov. 13, issued a memorandum to all mayors and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chairpersons instructing them to identify and prepare safe alternative evacuation centers to protect residents from potential flooding and other hazards.

He also directed officials to prepare resources necessary for both preemptive and mandatory evacuations. All designated shelters must be ready by Friday to accommodate residents at risk.

During the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in late October, 2,917 barangays were affected, while 774,192 families, or 3,255,804 individuals, were impacted.

At its peak, evacuations reached 309,253 families or equivalent to 1,193,183 persons, Gremil Alexis Naz, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol information officer, told the Inquirer in a phone interview Wednesday.

In Iriga City, Camarines Sur, 25,000 individuals from Barangays San Miguel, San Francisco, San Roque, San Jose, La Medalla, Sta. Maria, and Sagrada are considered at risk from flooding, lawyer Maharlika Ramon Oaferina, city administrator, told the Inquirer in a phone interview, also on Wednesday.

“We have already prepared evacuation centers in the elevated areas of Barangays Sta. Teresita, Salvacion, as well as schools and the city hall,” Oaferina said.

In Ligao City, Albay Mayor Fernando Gonzalez led the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in a pre-disaster risk assessment meeting to prepare for the anticipated impact of the coming storms that Pagasa has reported would hit the country before the year ends.