At least 8.4m people may be affected ‘from Batanes to Bohol’
The looming Super Typhoon “Uwan” will bring heavy to intense rains that may affect around 8.4 million people across Luzon and Visayas.
The Office of the Civil Defense said the storm’s adverse effects would be massive with its diameter spanning from Batanes to Bohol.
“Its 1,400-kilometer diameter – that is very big – could have an effect from Batanes to Bohol,” OCD assistant secretary Rafael Alejandro IV said in a press briefing.
“This severe weather will have a widespread impact,” he added.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Leo Quintilla said most of the possible affected population will be from the Ilocos Region (3.5 million), Cagayan Valley (2.03 million), the Cordillera Administrative Region (1.4 million) and Central Luzon (1.3 million).
The state weather bureau said “Uwan” may be as strong as Super Typhoon Pepito that caused widespread devastation in November last year.
PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said the highest wind signal that may be raised during Uwan’s onslaught is Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5, just like what happened during Super Typhoon Pepito.
As of yesterday, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was raised over the southeastern portion of Quezon, the eastern portion of Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern and central portions of Cebu, including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, the northeastern portion of Bohol, the northern portion of Negros Occidental, the northeastern portion of Capiz, the northeastern portion of Iloilo, Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte.
“Uwan” is forecast to make landfall over the southern portion of Isabela or the northern portion of Aurora on Sunday late evening or on Monday early morning.
After making landfall, “Uwan” will traverse the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Monday morning or afternoon, PAGASA said.
It is forecast to rapidly intensify and may reach super typhoon category Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
The OCD on Friday called on all local government units, particularly those along the projected path of “Uwan,” to carry out all necessary preemptive and preparatory measures to lessen its potential impact.
“This severe weather will bring widespread impact. Our NDRRMC is in full force and on red alert and we are urging our local government units to implement preemptive evacuation until Sunday, especially in areas susceptible to floods and landslides,” Alejandro said.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government said LGUs should not wait for conditions to worsen before acting.
“We are calling on all local chief executives to complete the evacuation of residents in high-risk areas no later than Sunday. Early evacuation saves lives,” the DILG said.
In preparation for Uwan’s possible onslaught, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has asked the managements of various shopping malls across Luzon to provide overnight free parking to motorists who may be affected by the storm.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said providing free parking would be a great help for motorists, especially those living in low-lying areas.
