The Philippines is bracing for Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) which is expected to make landfall over the weekend.
Heavy to intense rains (7.5 to 30mm/hr) are expected to be felt starting Saturday, Aldczar Aurelio of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
Lando is forecast to hit land late Saturday to early Sunday over Isabela-Aurora area. It may intensify further until then.
But when it hits land, it might start to weaken. It will be closest to Metro Manila on Sunday, and light to moderate rains are expected.
Pagasa has so far placed Baler and Aurora provinces under storm signal no. 2, and 17 other provinces under signal No. 1.
Alexander Pama, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said the rains from Lando are from the usual.
“Mag-uumpisa bukas mararamdaman na natin so itutuloy-tuloy natin yung mga abiso sa ating mga kababayan ngunit ngayon pa man, pinapauna na natin sa ating mga kababayan na maghanda-handa na po tayo,” he said.
(Starting Saturday, we will begin to feel heavy rains so we’ll be giving regular advisories. But this early, we are asking the people to be prepared.)
“Si Lando dumadami yung tubig na dala nya dahil mabagal yung galaw nya sa karagatan, mainit yung karagatan kaya nadadagdagan yung nage-evaporate na tubig so nadadagdagan yung tubig na dala nya,” he added.
(Lando is picking up more water because it’s moving slow and warm ocean waters increase evaporation, thus adding to the typhoon’s water load.)
Pama advised those who are planning to head towards the north for the weekend to cancel their plans.
“Kung hindi naman importante ang byaheng papuntang norte, kung pwede wag na po. Idadagdag ko pa pala yung ating mga kababayan na nasa eastern coast. Lalo na dun sa may Baler, Aurora….Kung pwede rin lang na ipagpaliban muna yung byahe na to dahil tiyak na hindi maganda ang panahon sa weekend..mas mabuti na ilagay natin yung sarili natin sa sigurong sitwasyon,” he said.
(If you’re headed north, don’t push through with it particularly those bound for Baler and Aurora. The weather there will be bad; it’s better to be safe.)
NDRRMC and its member agencies held a briefing for President Benigno Aquino III on typhoon updates on Friday afternoon in Malacanang.
“The President just wants that all necessary preparations are in place, the assessments are correct and agencies are ready and prepared,” Pama said.
In Isabela province, a liquor ban was enforced to avoid drunkend people from becoming possible casualties.
Norma Talosig, director of Office of Civil Defense in Cagayan, said they have also prepared for pre-emptive evacuation when necessary.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has put 3,000 troops on standby for the typhoon.
“These are from the Northern Luzon Command — the Army’s 7th and 5th Infantry Division (Nueva Ecija and Isabela) which was in the typhoon’s path,” AFP public affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato.
“Our troops are ready to augment other units in areas that will be affected. We also have air assets in Nolcom,” he added.