MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Residents in coastal areas of the Ilocos Region, including Pangasinan and La Union provinces, will be evacuated following a storm surge advisory on Saturday due to Super Typhoon Pepito (interntional name Man-yi).
Officials admitted it is a challenge to convince residents in the coastal areas to evacuate because it is still sunny in most parts of the province.
“The public is warned of potential life-threatening storm surges, with peak heights exceeding 3.0 meters expected in low-lying coastal areas, particularly in the Ilocos Region (western coast), Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, the Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and the northeastern coast of Leyte,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Orange warning, with possible storm surges from 2.1 to 3.0 meters, is raised in Rosario and Santo Tomas towns in La Union; and in Bani, Burgos, Agno, Anda, Binmaley, Bolinao, Burgos, Alaminos City, Dagupan City, Dasol, Infanta, Labrador, Lingayen, San Fabian and Sual in Pangasinan.
Storm surges under orange category could cause moderate to significant damage to communities and disruptions to all marine-related activities, significant erosions to beaches, and possible river flooding due to storm surge hence evacuation is advised, PAGASA said.
Under yellow category are Agoo, Aringay, Bacnotan, Balaoan, Bangar, Bauang, Caba, City of San Fernando, Luna and San Juan.
The coastal areas may experience 1.0 to 2.0 meters possible storm surge that could cause minimal to moderate damage to communities, coastal/marine infrastructures and disruptions to all marine-related activities.
In a phone interview, Assistant Director Pia Flores of the Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Emergency Operations Center said Bani and Burgos towns have asked for augmentation as they are preparing to implement preemptive evacuation.
“We have sent personnel and vehicles to assist them,” she said.
PDRRMO officials and the Department of the Interior and Local Government are coordinating on possible implementation of forced evacuation as the situation develops, she said.
Meanwhile, rescue teams and equipment in both provinces are on standby and ready for deployment. (PNA)