Rio N. Araja, Rey E. Requejo and Florante S. Solmerin
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III called on Filipinos to stay calm as Typhoon “Lando,’’ packing winds of 130 kph, entered the Philippines and is expected to hit Luzon Island by Saturday.
“I call on all Filipinos to avoid panicking. Let us prepare as we should,” Aquino said in a statement after presiding over a meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Friday.
Typhoon Lando was sighted 510 kms east of Baler, Aurora at 5 p.m. on Friday and is heading East toward the Isabela-Aurora area, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
Pagasa said it expects the typhoon to move 135 km east of Baler, Aurora at 5 p.m. Saturday and 155 kms south southeast of Laoag City or Hingyon, Ifugao at 5 p.m. Sunday.
It warned the estimated rainfall inside the 600 km diameter of the typhoon will either be heavy or intense.
The State weather agency further said the typhoon is forecast to move west at 15 kph, while having maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
Aquino said Lando’s movement is restricted by Typhoon ‘‘Champi’’ behind it and high-pressure areas above Lando. Because of this, Lando will be making its way through the country at a slower pace with heavy rainfall to last for six to 12 hours.
Furthermore, due to the accelerated evaporation caused by El Niño, there will be an increased intake of moisture, which will consequently increase the rainfall volume.
Moreover, according to Pagasa, Lando’s winds may reach up to 185 kph, which means that we may raise storm Signal No. 4 in affected areas.
He said they expect the storm to make landfall in the Luzon landmass early Sunday morning and forecasts show that Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5, and CAR will feel the effects of Lando.
“You can rest assured that, through the leadership of the NDRRMC and its executive director, Undersecretary Alex Pama, coordination continues among different government agencies, along with those from the private sector such as telecommunications and oil companies,” said Aquino.
The DSWD has prepositioned food packs to more quickly bring relief to affected communities and evacuation centers; they are supported by the Department of Public Works and Highways as they stockpile relief goods, he said.
DPWH has likewise readied heavy equipment to more immediately clear roads that will be, or may be impeded by debris.
The Department of Energy and National Electrification Administration are prepared to respond to bring power back to affected areas.
The Department of Health has prepared first aid equipment and the necessary medicines while the Department of Trade and Industry is monitoring market prices to ensure that profiteering does not take place.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection are actively implementing Oplan Listo.