QUEZON CITY, Oct. 20 – Here are the initial reports on the effects of Super Typhoon Lawin, which according to PAGASA, made a landfall at Baguio Point, Peñablanca, Cagayan at 11: 00 o’clock in the evening of October 19.
These were gathered from the various Philippine Information Agency information centers in coordination with various government agencies and local government units.
Heavy rains and gusty winds were experienced in the province of Cagayan which was under Typhoon Signal No. 2, the PIA Region 2 said. Initial reports of blown roofs of houses, toppled down trees and electric posts were received. In many instances these debris became road blocks.
Even the office of the Civil Defense in Region 2 which was the command center of the Cagayan Valley Risk Reduction and Management Council, monitoring the effects of the Super Typhoon, was not spared, and was damaged.
Earlier, Governor Manuel Mamba of Cagayan urged the public to open their houses to those who are forced to evacuate their homes due to flooding and fear that their houses cannot withstand the heavy rains and strong winds of 'Lawin'.
As of 9pm, the Buntun Bridge here already reached the 653-meter water level mark, which according to OCD-RDRRMC was not yet critical. However, residents living in low-lying areas particularly those adjacent to and along rivers were advised to evacuate to ensure their safety.
Even hours after the landfall of the super typhoon, Cagayan was continuously battered with heavy rains and gusty winds.
Preemptive evacuation earlier in the day was enforced but several evacuation centers were destroyed prompting the government of Tuguegarao to transfer the evacuees to the city auditorium.
PIA1/La Union said that according to initial reports from the Provincial Office of DILG, 12 towns have enforced preemptive evacuation.
Power outages were reported in the provinces of Quirino, Cagayan, Isabela, in 6 towns of La Union particularly San Gabriel, Naguilian, Agoo, Balaoan, Luna and the city of San Fernando.
Power outage was also reported in some parts of Baguio City.
PIA CAR/Apayao informed that the Tuguegarao-Magapit 69kV line tripped at 8:27PM affecting CAGELCO I-Alcala and entire CAGELCO II franchise area (parts of Cagayan and Apayao). Patrol of affected transmission line will be in full swing as soon as weather allows.
PIA CAR/IFUGAO reported power outages in the towns of Hungduan, Tinoc, Mayoyao, Kiangan, Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Hingyon, Kiangan and Asipulo.
PIA CAR also said that the DPWH-CAR reported that the as of 8PM of October 19, Kennon Road was preemptively closed to traffic for the safety of motorists.
Meanwhile, PIA-1/LA UNION said that as of 12midnight (October 20), all national roads and bridges are still passable to all types of vehicles. Information Officer Esperanza Tinaza of DPWH said their district maintenance engineers and maintenance point persons, together with maintenance crew are continuously monitoring road lines in their area of responsibility.
PIA-1/ILOCOS SUR informed that Governor Ryan Luis V. Singson has also declared the suspension of work to all private companies in the province on October 20 due to Typhoon Lawin.
Residents in the coastal areas of Candon City and eight other towns in the province were evacuated to safer grounds in anticipation of the landfall of Typhoon Lawin. Neresa Gorospe, staff of the Ilocos Sur DRRMC, said the accounting of evacuees is on-going. The coastal towns who have evacuated constituents are San Esteban, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa, Sinait, Sta. Catalina, Sta. Cruz, and Sto. Domingo.
PIA-2/ISABELA said that Governor Faustino Dy III and the other officers of the PDRRMC were at the Operations Center in the Provincial Capitol in order to monitor the events and to give prompt action to any effect of the super typhoon to the Isabelinos.
Some 5,137 individuals from 31 barangays in the coastal towns, low-lying areas and landslide-prone areas, took refuge at the evacuation centers.
PIA-NCR coordinated with the PIOs of the local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila on class suspension. As of 11:45 in the evening of October 19, the PIA-NCR has posted in its Official Facebook Page the announcement of class suspension for Thursday, October 20 in all levels of both public and private schools in all cities and municipality of Metro Manila. The suspension was called in view of the heavy rains to be brought by Typhoon Lawin.
According to PIA-NCR, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also declared a no walk zone policy along the Baywalk area of Roxas Boulevard in Manila due to strong waves. (PIA)