Laoag City on alert for heavy rains until Thursday due to ‘Lando’

LAOAG City, Philippines—The weather bureau has alerted residents of this Ilocos Norte capital to prepare for widespread rains from Monday to Thursday, as tropical depression “Lando” moves toward the northern tip of the country.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) also advised the city and provincial disaster risk reduction and management councils to prepare for the possible intensification of Lando, which has been moving slowly over the West Philippine Sea (or the South China Sea).

Disaster response officials asked residents in the coastal villages of Gabu and Caaoacan in Laoag and Tulnagan in Pasuquin town to seek safer ground, with Lando nearing Ilocos Norte.

Officials of the city disaster risk reduction and management council (CDRRMC) in Laoag said they have readied heavy equipment and trucks, emergency lighting and food packs for immediate dispatch if the storm intensified.

In Pangasinan, the coastal city of Dagupan is on alert and has been monitoring any changes in the direction of Lando.

“We are ready in case Lando changes direction and hit the city. We are constantly monitoring if it changes its track,” said city administrator Vladimir Mata during a meeting of the Dagupan CDRRMC on Monday.

The CDRRMC is waiting for the next bulletin of the weather bureau on the path of Lando, but a disaster response team is on standby.

Mata said the city government has readied an ambulance and rubber boats and activated a search and rescue team.

The Dagupan CDRRMC also opened a Facebook account where it has been posting advisories related to the storm, he said.

Emma Molina, city agriculture officer, said fishpond owners have put up nets around ponds and pens to protect their bangus (milkfish) from heavy rains and flooding.