Stronger ‘Lando’ heads for Luzon

THE TROPICAL storm now making its way toward Luzon is expected to develop into a full-blown typhoon, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rain this weekend, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Tropical Storm “Lando” (international name: Koppu) is projected to make landfall on Saturday in Isabela, before moving on to Bataan and Zambales.

Pagasa will put Isabela under storm signal No. 1 by 11 p.m. on Thursday, weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, Lando was still a severe tropical storm about 885 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora. It was packing maximum winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.

The storm is expected to move west at 17 kph.

Already, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) is on blue alert as it braces for the effects of Lando.

The agency placed half of its staff on standby to monitor and disseminate advisories to regional and provincial governments.

A blue alert is the second highest alert level after red.

Lando entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the NDRRMC held another predisaster risk assessment meeting with agencies concerned to prepare for the severe tropical storm.

So far, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has readied P10,406,475.28 in standby funds for the Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon and Cordillera Administrative Region. The agency has also prepared P117,884,769.03 in food and nonfood items for the affected regions.

The NDRRMC has issued a gale warning for fishermen against venturing out on the seaboards of northern, Central and southern Luzon due to rough seas.

Pagasa’s Aurelio said the storm might also affect Samar and Leyte.