President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday raised alarms over the potential for storm surges as Typhoon ‘Pepito’ (Man-Yi) moves closer to the Philippines.
In a media interview, President Marcos highlighted the lessons learned from previous typhoons, particularly Typhoon Yolanda, which brought devastating storm surges that claimed thousands of lives.
“This is very dangerous,” Mr. Marcos said. “If we’re talking about a storm surge of three meters, that’s almost one floor of a building. We need to make sure LGUs (local government units) and residents in vulnerable areas understand the risks and act swiftly.”
The president said the government has been closely monitoring regions likely to experience storm surges, including the Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and parts of Central Luzon.
According to the President, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and other agencies have been providing LGUs with detailed weather forecasts, guidance, and evacuation protocols.
“We now understand storm surges better than before. This knowledge allows us to take early action and minimize the impact on communities,” he said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that Pepito’s rainfall and strong winds could generate surges comparable to those seen during past typhoons.
President Marcos urged affected communities to evacuate ahead of the storm and heed warnings from authorities.
In a separate interview, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated he has ordered preemptive evacuations in areas at risk of storm surges.
Remulla said that the evacuation of residents from Quezon, Bicol, and Easter Samar would begin Friday night as he expressed concern that around 200,000 individuals would be affected by the storm surge.
Beyond evacuation efforts, President Marcos emphasized the need for prepositioning resources, including search and rescue equipment, airlift capabilities, and naval vessels, to provide relief and respond immediately to emergencies.
“With the storm expected to make itself felt by tomorrow, we are doing everything to ensure people are prepared and safe,” he said.
Typhoon ‘Pepito’ is forecast to bring torrential rains and strong winds to multiple regions, including Metro Manila, as early as Thursday.
Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay updated on official weather bulletins and follow evacuation orders to avoid casualties.
The government continues to work with LGUs to address the challenges posed by the storm surge threat, hoping to avert the scale of devastation seen in previous disasters.
