Albay enforces ‘no sailing’ order as ‘Lawin’ threatens Bicol

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 10 am., 22 September 2012

LEGAZPI CITY — The Albay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) issued on Saturday a “no sailing” order for small passenger vessels and fishing boats as Tropical Storm “Lawin” maintained its strength and threatens the Samar-Bicol provinces.

The PDRRMC advisory is a counter measure for disaster avoidance as authorities here were anticipating heavy rains in the next few days brought by Lawin.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda Saturday said that once heavy rains come, local disaster councils across the province are advised to strictly enforce the “no crossing of flooded waters, swelling rivers and artificial pools of waters” procedure.

All local disaster councils in the 15 towns and three cities of Albay are likewise directed to activate their respective operation centers and to closely monitor weather bulletins and PDRRMC advisories for the timely implementation of their respective disaster preparedness programs.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)said tropical storm Lawin was at 380 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center with gustiness of up to 120 kph.

Lawin is moving west-northwest with a speed of 9 kph.

Pagasa said Eastern Samar would experience stormy weather with rough to very rough seas.

Pagasa raised Storm Signal No. 2 over Eastern Samar and Signal No. 1 in Northern Samar, Western Samar and Leyte, all in Eastern Visayas; and in Sorsogon in Bicol.

Strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, Pagasa said.