Gov’t aims for zero casualty in Glenda onslaught

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 10 years ago

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – As more provinces are placed under storm warning signal no. 3, Malacañang on Tuesday said it is ready for typhoon “Glenda” and will ensure that there are no casualties.

“The government has been placed on full alert and has intensified preparations to achieve zero casualties during the height of typhoon ‘Glenda,’ which is expected to make landfall in the Albay-Sorsogon area later today (Tuesday),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

He said the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) has already ordered its local units to undertake safety measures “to ensure the safety of all our citizens, especially those living in near or within the danger zones or high-risk areas.”

Coloma added that the concerned agencies such as the NDRRMC and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) will continue to monitor “Glenda” and will provide regular updates on the situation.

“We enjoin our countrymen to remain vigilant and to heed the call of national and local government units on safety and precautionary measures until the projected exit of typhoon ‘Glenda’ from the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday, 18 July,” the secretary said.

As of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, storm warning signal no. 3 was raised in the following provinces:

Catanduanes

Albay

Sorsogon

Camarines Norte

Camarines Sur

Masbate

southern Quezon

Marinduque

Northern Samar

northern part of (Western) Samar

northern part of Eastern Samar.

Meanwhile, storm warning signal no. 2 was up in northern Quezon including Polillo Islands, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Biliran, rest of Samar, rest of Eastern Samar, northern part of Leyte and Metro Manila.

Storm warning signal no. 1, on the other hand, was raised in Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, southern part of Leyte, Camotes Islands, northern Cebu including Cebu City.