Opong Intensifies Into Severe Tropical Storm, To Hit Luzon This Weekend

President Marcos led on Wednesday, Sept. 24, a meeting of disaster management officials at Camp Aguinaldo as Opong intensified into a severe tropical storm.

The meeting focused on ensuring government readiness and maximizing logistics and prepositioned resources for Opong (international name Bualoi), which is expected to make landfall over the Bicol Region by Friday, Sept. 26.

“The President was satisfied with the extent of preparations and the prepositioning of needed goods and supplies,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. told reporters after the meeting.

“We hope that Opong will not be that strong so we can be spared somehow, but we have to prepare for the worst-case scenario,” he added.

Before the meeting, local governments and disaster officials had begun preparations for possible evacuations and other precautionary measures to mitigate flooding, landslides, strong winds and storm surges.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has prepositioned over P3.1 billion worth of relief supplies nationwide. This includes 2.5 million food packs, non-food items and financial aid to support affected communities.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is also on heightened alert, with floating assets and response teams strategically positioned in key areas.

As part of ongoing relief efforts, the PCG is distributing 1,700 water bottles and 1,700 ready-to-eat food packs from the DSWD to barangays in Sta. Ana and Aparri, Cagayan.

Meanwhile, police units in Southern Luzon and the Visayas remain on standby to assist in evacuations and disaster response, ensuring security and order throughout the storm’s passage.

As of 4 a.m. today, Sept. 25, the center of Opong was located 440 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km per hour near the center, gusts of up to 135 kph.

Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the following areas:

Luzon – Catanduanes, the southern portion of Albay (Santo Domingo, Legazpi City, Camalig, Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, Daraga, Jovellar, Manito), and Sorsogon

Visayas – Northern Samar, the northern and central portions of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, Maslog, San Policarpo, Taft, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Sulat, San Julian), and the northern and central portions of Samar (San Jorge, San Sebastian, Villareal, Zumarraga, Matuguinao, Pinabacdao, Almagro, Calbayog City, Talalora, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, City of Catbalogan, Gandara, Motiong, Santo Niño, Tagapul-An, San Jose de Buan, Santa Margarita, Tarangnan, Calbiga, Daram, Paranas, Hinabangan)

Signal No. 1

Luzon – The rest of Albay, Masbate including Ticao and Burias islands, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Aurora , Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, the central and southern portions of Isabela (Alicia, San Mateo, Aurora, Ramon, Naguilian, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Luna, City of Cauayan, Echague, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Santiago, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Gamu, San Isidro, Cordon, Jones, Burgos, San Mariano, Palanan), Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, the southwestern portion of Mountain Province (Bauko, Sabangan, Tadian), Benguet, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem), La Union, and Pangasinan

Visayas – The rest of Eastern Samar and the rest of Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, San Remigio, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Catmon, Tuburan, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Compostela) including Camotes and Bantayan islands, the northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, City of Talisay), the northern portion of Iloilo (San Dionisio, Batad, Balasan, Carles, Sara, Concepcion, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Banate, Anilao, San Enrique, City of Passi, Bingawan, Calinog, Lambunao, Dueñas, Dingle), Capiz, Aklan, the northern and central portions of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An) including Caluya Islands and Calamian Islands

Mindanao – Siargao, Bucas Grande and Dinagat islands

Opong is forecast to cross Southern Luzon throughout Friday and exit over the West Philippine Sea by Saturday, Sept. 27.

Death toll rises

The death toll from recent typhoons Nando and Mirasol has risen to seven, according to the PCG.

The group confirmed that seven fishermen died after their boat JOBHENZ capsized off Sta. Ana, Cagayan during Super Typhoon Nando.

The vessel was anchored for safety when it was hit by powerful waves and winds. Six crewmembers survived and were rescued. Bodies were recovered from mangroves and open sea.

Aside from this incident, the NDRRMC also confirmed four other deaths linked to the typhoons: two fishermen in Aurora, a landslide victim in Benguet and one fatality in Cagayan Valley. Eleven people were injured, and one person remains missing in the Bicol Region.

The combined effects of the typhoons affected over 156,000 families or nearly 693,000 people across various regions. Approximately 25,000 people are currently staying in evacuation centers.

Damage assessments show that Pangasinan alone suffered more than P69 million in infrastructure losses and P13 million in agricultural damage, mainly to rice crops. The Ilocos and Western Visayas regions recorded combined crop and infrastructure damage estimated at P14.8 million.

Additionally, 128 houses were reported damaged across multiple regions including Ilocos, CAR, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation nationwide closely as Tropical Storm Opong threatens further impact. – With Evelyn Macairan, Christine Boton, Bella Cariaso, Emmanuel Tupas, Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, Artemio Dumlao, Cesar Ramirez, Michael Punongbayan