MANILA, Oct. 19 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte has urged the Filipino people to pray that the country be spared from the destruction that super typhoon Lawin might bring, particularly in northern Luzon.
“We hope for the best. We only pray that we be spared of the destruction, such as in the past, which has brought agony and suffering to our people,” President Duterte said in a statement he made in Beijing, China.
President Duterte was referring to super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) that ravaged western and central Visayas, leaving more than 6,000 people dead and millions of people homeless in November 2013.
President Duterte assured that all concerned government agencies have made all the necessary preparations to mitigate the consequences the cyclone might bring to northern Luzon.
“We have put in place all things necessary to mitigate whatever consequences the cyclone would bring. I hope that there would be none, but just the same, we can expect some sort of stronger typhoon this year,” the President said.
The state weather bureau PAGASA said the center of 'Lawin' was spotted 275 km. east southeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 225 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 315 kph as of 5 p.m.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 5 was hoisted over the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao while Signal No. 4 was raised over Ilocos Norte, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao and the Calayan Group of Islands and Signal No. 3 over La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and northern Aurora.
Signal No. 2 is in effect over th eBatanes Group of Islands, Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, northern Zambales, and northern Quezon, including Polillo Islands.
President Duterte said all concerned national and local government offices, led by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), have been alerted for possible storm surges, strong winds and possible loss of lives.
He said the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have prepared medical kits and medicines, as well as relief goods.
“We are ready. Everything has been deployed. All that is needed is to work it out and wait for proper advice from government. If we would just follow, we might really expect less damage and loss of lives,” the President said.
Earlier, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea advised the public to heed the typhoon warnings but remain calm and alert.
Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Assistant Secretary for Operations and Special Concerns Ana Maria Banaag called on the people to unite and work together, especially in areas to be affected by the super typhoon.
”In times like this, we need to help each other, show concern and work together for our countrymen to be hit by typhoon,” she said. (PNA)
Source: CVL/JFM, by Jelly F. Musico, Philippine News Agency
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