Nika Intensifies Into A Typhoon; Two Other Weather Disturbances Being Monitored

Severe Tropical Storm Nika intensified into a typhoon this morning, Nov. 11, as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) monitors two other weather disturbances.

Heavy rainfall warning was issued and Signal No. 4 was hoisted over the northernmost portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran), the central and southern portions of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Jones, Echague, Ramon, San Isidro, City of Santiago, Cordon, Roxas, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, Gamu, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Cabatuan, Alicia, Luna, City of Cauayan, Angadanan, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Ilagan City, Delfin Albano, San Agustin), the southeastern portion of Abra (Tubo, Boliney, Daguioman, Bucloc, Malibcong), the central and eastern portions of Mountain Province (Sadanga, Bontoc, Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis), the eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista), and the western and southern portions of Kalinga (Tanudan, Tinglayan, Pasil, Lubuagan, Balbalan, City of Tabuk).

PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said Typhoon Nika may make landfall in Isabela or northern Aurora this morning, Nov. 11.

At 3:00 a.m. today, PAGASA said the center of Nika (Toraji) was estimated at 120 kilometers east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Meanwhile, another cyclone is expected to enter the country as the low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility intensified into a tropical depression.

Tropical Storm Man-Yi outside PAR is also being monitored by PAGASA. Aurelio said it is unlikely to enter PAR. Severe Tropical Storm Marce is also now outside PAR.

On Sunday, Nov. 10, classes were suspended as typhoon signals were raised. This morning, Signal No. 3 was raised in the northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan), the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio, Bayombong), the northern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Maddela), the rest of Isabela, the southwestern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal, Piat), the rest of Abra, the southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao), the rest of Kalinga, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Buguias, Mankayan, Bakun), the southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Laoag City, Sarrat, San Nicolas, Piddig, Marcos, Nueva Era, Dingras, Bacarra, Solsona, Paoay, Currimao, Pinili, Badoc, City of Batac, Banna), and Ilocos Sur.

Signal No. 2: The central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Quirino, the northwestern and eastern portions of Cagayan (Iguig, Peñablanca, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Gattaran, Lasam, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Lal-Lo, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga), the rest of Apayao, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, La Union, the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug), and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City).

Signal No. 1: The rest of Aurora, the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso), 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 northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Calauag, Infanta, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, Perez, Real, General Nakar, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan) including Pollilo Islands, Camarines Norte, and the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Garchitorena, Lagonoy).

Preparing for Nika

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, instructed regional directors to enact emergency preparedness actions during a meeting on Sunday with key government officials at Camp Aguinaldo

Defense Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV urged regional directors to activate their local regional inter-agency coordinating cells to ensure effective communication.

Office of Civil Defense Director Agnes Palacio said affected regions should leverage available data and resources for preparedness planning.

Mandatory evacuation

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Sunday ordered the mandatory evacuation of residents in at least 2,500 barangays threatened by landslides and flooding brought by Nika. He said the situation is more dangerous due to the recent typhoons and storms that battered the country.

“I already issued an advisory to all the concerned governors and mayors, all the 2,500 barangays affected and identified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that potential landslides are high, the mandatory evacuation will start (Sunday night),” Remulla said.

He added that concerned local government units have 16 hours to ensure that their constituents are evacuated.

“We are prepared on the ground as far as national agency responders are concerned, but it is a matter of cooperation in Regions 1, 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region,” Remulla said.

“That (mandatory evacuation) is the most difficult job of barangay captains. Everybody should be convinced to join. That (refusal to leave their homes) is the mentality of Filipinos. I was a governor for a very long time. There were members of the family who chose to stay to look after their homes,” he said.

Remulla gave assurance that authorities will do everything to make sure no one is left behind during the mandatory evacuation.

“We have a one-day window on Wednesday if we need to replenish (our relief goods). Our C-130, land vehicles, helicopters (can) deliver more relief goods. Our air assets of the Air Force and the Philippine National Police are also prepared for air rescue in isolated barangays,” he said.

People stranded at ports, flight cancellations

As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) monitored 369 passengers, truck drivers and cargo helpers stranded at seven seaports in its Southern Tagalog and Bicol Districts.

Also stranded were 63 rolling cargoes, two ships and four motorized boats. One vessel decided to take shelter, as protection against bad weather conditions caused by Nika.

As of 11 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, the PCG District Southern Tagalog had already temporarily suspended all vessels and watercraft from plying the route within the area of responsibility of Northern Quezon and Southern Quezon.

As for the PCG District Northwestern Luzon, under commander Captain Mark Larsen Mariano, it had already prepositioned all of its Deployable Response Groups and equipment in preparation for the effects of Nika.

Laoag International Airport announced on Sunday the cancellation of Philippine Airlines flights PR 2196/2197 Manila-Laoag-Manila.

Prayers for protection

Still recovering from the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine last month, Virac, Catanduanes Bishop Luisito Occiano, in an interview over Radio Veritas, requested for prayers to spare the province from harm caused by Nika.

“I again humbly ask each of you to join together in fervent prayer, seeking the intercession of Our Blessed Mother to protect us against this storm. Together, let us implore the Lord to shield us from harm and grant safety to all those in the path of this storm,” Occiano said. – With Rudy Santos, Evelyn Macairan, Pia Lee-Brago