(OCD Bicol Director Claudio Yucot presides over a meeting of Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to discuss the government preparations for Tropical Cyclone “Man-yi” on November 13, 2024. Beside him is Police General Andre Dizon)
LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) of Bicol has activated all provincial and municipal disaster councils, preparing for the onslaught of tropical storm “Man-yi,” which will be locally named “Pepito” upon entering the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
Thousands of residents are being readied for evacuation as the storm is forecast to enter the PAR tonight, Thursday, and potentially intensify into a typhoon by Friday morning. “Pepito” is expected to make landfall between the eastern coasts of Eastern Visayas and Central Luzon during the weekend, (November 16 or 17).
RDRRMC chair and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Claudio Yucot has alerted all provincial and municipal officials in Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Masbate to be ready to respond to emergencies.
Evacuation efforts will begin on Friday morning, focusing on residents living in coastal communities and areas prone to landslides. Local government units have been instructed to submit data on the population requiring evacuation to ensure their safety from potential flooding and landslides.
The disaster council officials are particularly concerned about Camarines Sur, which suffered devastating flooding from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine last month. Many residents displaced by the inundation are still living in temporary shelters.
To accommodate evacuees, the OCD will seek approval from the Commission on Higher Education to designate state colleges and universities (SUCs) in the region as evacuation centers.
The RDRRMC has also requested the Department of Transportation, through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, to suspend land travel to the Visayas and Mindanao by Thursday night due to “Pepito.” Land travel to Catanduanes and Masbate will also be suspended effective tonight.
These measures aim to prevent congestion along the Asian Highway 26 (Maharlika Highway) and ports in Bicol, including the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon.
Local government units have been instructed to suspend in-person classes and issue the suspension order a day before PAGASA hoists tropical cyclone warning signals over the region.
The RDRRMC is urging all residents to stay informed, prepare for potential impacts, and follow the instructions of local authorities.
In Albay, Acting Governor Glenda Ong-Bongao announced the suspension of classes at all levels, effective starting at Thursday noon.
Likewise, the OCD will advise the public to postpone mass gatherings scheduled for Friday, Nov. 15.
All emergency assets and personnel of response agencies are now on standby.
Pepito will be the 16th tropical cyclone to enter the PAR in 2024 and the fourth one for November, following Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi). (PIA5)
