By Joann Villanueva | Philippine News Agency
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Thursday said all necessary preparations and precautions have been put in place to limit the impact of Typhoon Emong (Co-May), Tropical Storm Dante (Francisco), and the southwest monsoon (habagat) on transmission lines and facilities.
In an advisory, NGCP said it is implementing its Integrated Disaster Action Plan (IDAP), which includes pre-positioning line crews in strategic areas, checking communications equipment, and ensuring availability of hardware for immediate repair work on damaged transmission facilities.
“These preparations are crucial to ensure the reliability and swift restoration of power in areas that may be affected by the weather disturbances,” the grid operator said.
The weather bureau, in its 11 a.m. bulletin, said Emong is moving slowly south southeastward, with the center estimated at 220 km. west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan. It packs a maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 has been raised over the northern part of Pangasinan, specifically Anda, Bolinao, and Bani, as well as the western portion of La Union, including Luna, Balaoan, Bacnotan, San Juan, City of San Fernando, Bauang, Bangar, and Caba.
TCWS No. 2, in turn, has been raised over Ilocos Norte, the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of La Union, the western portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao, Calanasan), Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the central portion of Pangasinan (Agno, Burgos, Mabini, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Bugallon, Infanta, Dasol, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Manaoag, Laoac, Binalonan, San Manuel, San Nicolas, Pozorrubio, Sison, San Fabian, San Jacinto), and the western portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kayapa, Santa Fe).
TCWS No. 1 in Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the western and central portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Ramon, Cordon, Burgos, Cabatuan, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Gamu, Luna, Maconacon, Alicia, San Mariano, Naguilian, San Guillermo, City of Cauayan, Echague, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Santiago, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, Divilacan, San Isidro, Jones), the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, the rest of Apayao, the rest of Pangasinan, the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan), Tarlac, and the western and central portions of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, Talugtug, Cuyapo, Nampicuan, Guimba, Science City of Muñoz, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Llanera, Talavera, Santo Domingo, Quezon, Licab, Aliaga, Zaragoza, San Antonio, Jaen, Cabanatuan City, Santa Rosa, General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Bongabon, Laur).
As of the 11 a.m. bulletin for Dante, it was estimated at around 735 km. east of northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving north northwestward at 30 kph and packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. (PNA)
