More local government units suspended classes today as Tropical Depression “Amang” flooded several areas and is poised to dump heavy rain over parts of Luzon, maintaining its strength even after making several landfalls in Camarines Sur on Wednesday afternoon, the weather bureau said.
Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez suspended classes for all levels for Thursday, with the towns of Lopez in Quezon, Montalban in Rizal, and Santo Tomas in Batangas following suit.
On Wednesday, Camarines Sur Gov. Luigi Villafuerte also declared classes suspended, with Naga City (CamSur), Calamba City, Liliw, Mabitac, Pangil, Santa Maria, and Pagsanjan (all in Laguna) also shutting schools along with most towns in Quezon Province and some in Rizal, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija.
In its latest bulletin last night, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said an accumulated 50 to 100 mm of rainfall is expected until Thursday morning in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Quezon.
Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and the southern portion of Aurora will also experience an accumulated rainfall of 50 to 100 mm in the next three days, the weather agency said.
This amount of rainfall is equal to 50 to 100 liters of rain in a square meter area in 24 hours, ABS-CBN News resident meteorologist Ariel Rojas said.
PAGASA warned that heavy rainfall from Amang could spawn isolated flash floods and landslides.
Amang was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and 55 kph gusts. It is moving north-northwestward at 10 kph.
PAGASA raised signal no. 1 over the following areas, where 39 to 61 kph winds could cause minimal to minor threat to life and property:
Catanduanes; Sorsogon (City of Sorsogon, Pilar, Castilla, Donsol, Barcelona, Magallanes, Gubat, Casiguran, Juban, Prieto Diaz); Albay;
Camarines Sur; Camarines Norte; Laguna (Cavinti, Lumban, Kalayaan, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Famy, Santa Maria, Mabitac);
Aurora; Quezon (Buenavista, Calauag, Infanta, Lopez, Guinayangan, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, General Nakar, Perez, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso, Tagkawayan) including Polillo Islands; Rizal (Tanay, Pililla, Rodriguez, Baras, City of Antipolo);
Bulacan (Norzagaray, Doña Remedios Trinidad); and Nueva Ecija (Gabaldon, Bongabon, Laur, General Tinio).
PAGASA said Amang was expected to move northwestward in the next 12 hours and expected to pass over the eastern localities in Camarines Sur, Lamon Bay, and Quezon.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Wednesday assured the public that it is ready for Amang’s potential impact on airports in the Bicol Region, Northern Samar and the northern part of Eastern Samar.
“The CAAP has activated its contingency plans for severe weather disturbances in order to ensure the safety of all passengers and airport personnel in case of flight disruptions due to the tropical depression,” said CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio.
He said the authority is also closely coordinating with airline operators and other concerned agencies to minimize hazard and impact, and ensure the efficient resumption of flight operations once weather conditions permit.
The Department of Agriculture, too, said it was ready for the possible effects of Amang.
“Based on the combined data of affected regions (Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol region and Eastern Visayas) as of today, the area of standing crops that may be affected by Tropical Depression Amang totals 632,706 hectares with 602,728 hectares for rice and 29,978 hectares for corn,” it said.
The DA activated its regional disaster risk reduction and management operation centers.
It has positioned seeds for rice and corn, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry in safe storage facilities and coordinated with local governments, the DA said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), meanwhile, activated its “high-risk” emergency preparedness protocol for the possible impact of Amang.
In a statement, NDRRMC spokesperson Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro said their emergency preparedness protocol has been activated.
Regional disaster management councils in Calabarzon, Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas are also under the high-risk protocol.