CALAMBA CITY, Laguna — Philippine Coast Guard in Southern Tagalog (PCG-STL) cancelled all sea travels in Calabarzon area as early as 5 a.m. Monday after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) hoisted tropical cyclone warning Signal No. 1 over the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and southern Quezon.
PAGASA also raised Signal No. 2 over northern Quezon and Polillo Island as of 11 a.m. Monday prior to the onslaught of Typhoon Rosita.
In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Rosita was last spotted at 410 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora.
Rosita packs maximum sustained winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.
Director Olivia M. Luces of the Calabarzon Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) told Philippine News Agency that some 80 passengers were already stranded at the Quezon ports with 70 in Polillo Island to Patnanungan while 10 others were held at bay in Infanta to Panukulan, Quezon.
Luces said the Regional Operations Center has been raised to red alert effective 8 a.m. Monday.
She advised the region’s member-agencies and local DRRMCs to be ready due to the weather situation.
However, no untoward incidents, evacuees, damaged houses and casualties were monitored, and no suspension of classes was reported as of posting time.
Preparedness measures have been readied and advisories were disseminated via emails, social media and media support to Calabarzon constituents on the weather situation.
She said the local DRRMCs have been reminded to continuously disseminate NDRRMC/RDRRMC notifications through local/community leaders and/or local media to inform/warn communities, particularly residents in low-lying areas, near mountain slopes and coastal areas of possible flooding/flashfloods, landslides, storm surges and big waves.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 4-A) has already issued notices to local government units especially at the barangay level on identified landslide and flood-prone areas and other geo-hazards.
Health authorities in the region have raised their Code White alert status with preventive measures including preparation of medicines for all provinces.
The Bureau of Fire Protection Regional Office implemented Code Blue for all fire stations and offices in the region and instructed all personnel including special rescue units on standby alert and ready for deployment.
Police Regional Office (PRO 4-A) raised its heightened alert and formed a reactionary stand-by support force for any eventuality. (PNA)
