All concerned government agencies convened on Wednesday and closely monitored the movements of Super Typhoon Leon, a few hours after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered them to be ready for the potential impact of the weather disturbance.
“Unfortunately, mukhang may padating na naman kaya’t paghandaan natin nang mabuti,” President Marcos said in his speech during the grand opening of the Maersk Optimus Distribution Center in Laguna earlier Wednesday.
National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. led the briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on the government’s efforts on the possible effects of Leon.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it immediately prepared its units to help in rescue and relief operations as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) started monitoring the seaports in affected areas.
“Bilang isang nagkakaisang pwersa po para sa katatagan at pag-asa po ng ating bayan, we will mobilize all necessary resources for Typhoon Leon as we continue our recovery efforts from typhoon Kristine. Our AFP po, ‘yung inyong sandatahang Pilipinas remains vigilant and prepared for the upcoming challenges,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.
“We are committed to protect and support our communities in unwavering zeal with typhoon Leon approaching. We are ready to act swiftly, safeguard lives and provide assistance wherever needed,” Padilla added.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepositioned family food packs and all forms of assistance in areas where Leon is expected to hit.
In its latest bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Leon continues to move closer to Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 230 km/h.
Signal No.4 has been hoisted in Batanes, which means that “the situation is potentially very destructive to the community”. Signal No. 3 has been raised in the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.
The PAGASA raised Signal No. 2 in the rest of Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, the northern and eastern portions of Abra, the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis), and Ilocos Norte.
The rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of Abra, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, the northeastern portion of Tarlac, the northern portion of Bulacan, the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur, and the northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes are on Signal No. 1. | PND
