In an early move to help and protect Filipinos from the impact of Tropical Storm ‘Kristine’, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday ordered dam operators in Luzon to slowly release water ahead of the expected heavy rains to be brought by the typhoon.
This would prevent dams from reaching their full capacity, thus reducing the need for bulk release of excess water that could adversely affect Filipinos in downstream communities, the President said.
“Maybe what we can do is do a measured response. Kahit hindi pa high water level, magbitaw na tayo nang kaunti. Pababain na natin na hindi apektado ‘yung mga downstream communities,” he said.
President Marcos led the situation briefing to assess the effects of Tropical Storm Kristine at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) headquarters in Quezon City.
According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), some dams have already released water gradually from their respective reservoir on Wednesday morning. They include the dams of Magat, Binga, and San Roque.
As of Wednesday morning, the provinces under Storm Signal No. 2 include Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, the northern and eastern portions of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and the northeastern portion of Sorsogon.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 is hoisted over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Bataan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, the rest of Quezon, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Calamian Islands, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
Tropical Storm Kristine is expected to make landfall in Isabela later in the evening or early morning on Thursday. |PND
