Photo courtesy of Gov Luigi Villafuerte
QUEZON CITY — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported today, Nov. 16, that over 40,000 families have responded to calls for preemptive evacuation as Super Typhoon Pepito is projected to make landfall in Catanduanes tonight or tomorrow morning.
“As of 7 a.m. today, we have received reports that 43,623 families, or 134,653 individuals, agreed to the forced evacuation implemented by the local government units (LGUs) to ensure their safety,” said OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno during a press briefing.
In addition to proactive evacuations, Nepomuceno noted that emergency response assets have been prepared, including family food packs and hygiene kits.
“On top of that, we have 36,694 uniformed personnel on standby for search, rescue, and relief operations, and a total of 2,299 land vehicles, watercraft, and navy vessels ready for deployment,” he added.
He urged residents in storm surge and landslide-prone areas within the direct path of Pepito to heed the government’s call to evacuate.
“It’s more dangerous now for those in landslide-prone areas because the ground has been saturated by the consecutive typhoons,” Nepomuceno warned. He also cautioned that the projected peak height of storm surges, reaching two to three meters in low-lying or exposed coastal localities, poses a significant threat.
Pagasa senior weather specialist Chris Perez highlighted reports of flooding in Tiwi, Albay, indicating a stronger weather system that could potentially affect coastal areas today.
“We aim for zero casualty with Pepito. We’ve undergone massive preparations in Regions 1, 2, Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 3, 4-A, 8, and CALABARZON,” Nepomuceno stated.
Echoing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prepare for the worst-case scenario, the OCD chief emphasized the importance of caution in these circumstances.
In a situation briefing yesterday, President Marcos underscored the need for continued coordination with LGUs for updates and public warnings, as well as the identification of appropriate evacuation centers for areas likely to be affected by storm surges and landslides. (OCD)
