Two more tropical cyclones are likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this week, the state weather bureau said Sunday.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) chief Nathaniel Servando said amid the presence of Severe Tropical Storm “Nika,” two more vortices may develop into cyclones to be named “Ofel” and “Pepito” once they enter the PAR.
“Of course, it’s too far, too early yet. But the Department of Science and Technology-Pagasa will continue monitoring closely not only ‘Nika’ but the potential vortices between Nov. 10 to November 16,” he said.
“Ofel” may make landfall by Nov. 14 or 15, while Pepito’s landfall may be between Nov. 16 and 17,” he added.
Meanwhile, “Nika” was monitored moving westward over the weekend as it neared typhoon strength.
The cyclone’s center was estimated at 380 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon, as it was moving westward at 20 km/h, with maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 135 km/h.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 2 was raised over the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), Isabela, Quirino, the southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Solana, Iguig, Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Rizal, Piat, Tuao, Gattaran, Lasam), Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Apayao (Kabugao, Conner, Flora, Pudtol), Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City), the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Narvacan, Nagbukel, Cervantes, Quirino, San Emilio, Santa Maria, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, City of Candon, Galimuyod, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, Sigay, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Alilem, Tagudin, Sugpon), La Union, and the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug).
Meanwhile, Signal no. 1 was hoisted over the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, Tarlac, the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso), the rest of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, the eastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Cavinti, Lumban, Luisiana, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Pila, Victoria), the eastern portion of Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Pitogo, San Andres, Buenavista, San Francisco, Pagbilao, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso, General Nakar, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and the northeastern portion of Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Rapu-Rapu).
As this developed, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. convened the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at Camp Aguinaldo to discuss critical preparations for ‘Nika.’
During the meeting, Teodoro, who chairs the NDRRMC, instructed regional directors to implement necessary preparedness actions based on PAGASA’s projections.
For his part, Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV urged regional directors to activate their own regional interagency coordinating cells (IACC) to ensure effective communication and prompt preparedness measures with local authorities.
The meeting also addressed key concerns regarding potential secondary hazards, such as wind strength and storm surge.
