LAOAG CITY – Ilocos Norte residents on Tuesday braced for impact of Tropical Storm Kristine as the weather disturbance started to bring strong winds with light to moderate rains in this part of Luzon.
Even before the province was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, boat owners in the coastal towns shifted their vessels inland and secured them from possible impact of Kristine, which, according to the state weather bureau, will likely make a landfall in Ilocos Region on Wednesday morning.
While monitoring the weather, Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc said all mayors and resiliency officers of the 21 towns and two cities were already on full alert since Monday evening.
“Last night, I asked all mayors and resiliency officers to activate our resiliency teams, clear all waterways, mobilize and check necessary resources, and prepare relief goods and supplies,” he said in a statement.
Rochelle Gajes, acting provincial social welfare and development officer, told the Philippine News Agency that a total of 5, 702 family food packs are ready for dispatch at the Takuat Bodega warehouse in San Nicolas town.
She said about 3, 467 relief items are prepositioned in seven satellite warehouses across the province.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development satellite warehouse in this city has a total of 15, 000 family food packs for augmentation, including 1, 000 sacks of 50-kilo rice at the National Food Authority Laoag warehouse.
Marcell Tabije, Ilocos Norte local disaster risk reduction and management officer, reminded residents living in flood-prone areas to stay vigilant and prepare for the bad weather.
“Let us make sure that we have mechanisms in place just in case the weather situation will escalate. We need to be prepared for any eventuality,” he said.
To beef up the disaster preparedness of the province, additional relief aid composed of 800 sacks of rice at five kilos each, 50 boxes of instant noodles, and 10 boxes of toothpaste were delivered at the Ilocos Norte Capitol on Tuesday in preparation for typhoon Kristine.
The items were turned over by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. for those who may be affected by Kristine.
Some farmers have also harvested what they can save before the typhoon makes a landfall.
Mechanized drying facilities were also offered to farmers who may need quick drying facilities to minimize typhoon damage.
Evacuation centers were also equipped with adequate supplies and facilities, including standby generator sets in case of power interruption.
Philippine Airlines, in a flight advisory posted on the provincial government’s official Facebook page, said PAL flights PR2196/PR2197 and PR2199/PR2199 Manila-Laoag and vice versa scheduled on October 24, 2024 have been cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions. (PNA)