MASSIVE floods in vast areas in Central Luzon (Region 3) have yet to
subside but another tropical storm is again threatening the country and
may pound areas lashed by typhoons Pedring and Quiel.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Sunday said that typhoon Quiel (international name: Nalgae) weakened as it moved west towards Vietnam.
Public Storm Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales and Pangasinan.
Last night, Quiel was 500 kilometers west of Baguio City, with maximum winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kilometers per hour. The weather bureau said that rains experienced on Sunday and today were due to the southwest monsoon which is expected to cause scattered to widespread rains over the western section of Southern Luzon.
But even as Quiel was on its way out, weather forecasters are monitoring another low pressure area (LPA) over the Pacific ocean, 660 kilometers east of Visayas.
The LPA, spotted east of Mindanao over the Pacific Ocean, was estimated to move west or northwest, possibly hitting the eastern part of Visayas or typhoon-weary Luzon. Once it enters Philippine Area of Responsibility, the tropical depression will be named Ramon.
Pagasa, however, said that the sLPA is still too far to have any effect on the country. Forecasters said the LPA could develop into a tropical depression by Wednesday.
Many areas in Luzon are still reeling from the effects of typhoons Pedring (Nesat) and Quiel (Nalgae). More than 50 people had been killed while several areas in Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Pampanga were inundated by floods in the wake of the two cyclones.
On Saturday, Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said that the incoming storm may target Northern Luzon, which was battered by Quiel.
Officials in Pangasinan opened two gates of the San Roque Dam as part of their preparations for the coming storm.
Calamity summit
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd sought the holding of a national summit on calamity to come up with better ways to respond to disasters and reduced the number of casualties.
Pimentel said that government agencies and non-government groups and organizations should take part in the summit.
“We continually experience typhoons year in and year out, yet many of our fellow citizens unnecessarily die or are injured when these calamities occur,” the senator said.
He added that an assembly on calamities could help the country reduce fatalities, reduce damage to crops and infrastructure and adopt more effective relief strategies.
Source: Manila Times
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