By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla on Saturday urged all residents of low-lying and coastal areas of 23 provinces and Metro Manila to prepare for storm surges which could reach as high as five to seven meters.
“Hindi po biro ito (This is no joke) EVACUATE NOW!”, said Remulla in a Facebook post.
The DILG chief also instructed concerned mayors and punong barangays (village chiefs) to prioritize the immediate mandatory preemptive evacuations of at-risk communities in storm surge areas.
“Ngayon pa lang ay may pakiusap na kami sa lahat ng coastal barangays sa mga lalawigan na ilisan na ang mga tao sa lugar na mula sampung metro sa dagat. Ang storm surge na posible mangyari ay lagpas bahay ang pasok ng dagat sa baybayin (This early, we are asking everyone in the coastal barangays in the provinces to evacuate their people from 10 meters aways from the sea. Possible storm surge could be higher than a house once it reaches the coast),” Remulla said.
Remulla issued the directive to local chief executives upon the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during a meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Friday.
Based on the latest PAGASA Storm Surge Warning issued at 2 a.m. Saturday, there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 m within the next 48 hours over several areas in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Cavite, Batangas, Marinduque, Masbate, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Samar. LGUs are also advised to continue monitoring PAGASA advisories. (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
