By Brian Campued
Severe Tropical Storm Opong is forecast to make landfall over the southern portion of Occidental Mindoro by Friday noon or early afternoon, the state weather bureau said.
As of 10:00 a.m. today, Opong was located over the coastal waters of Ferrol, Romblon, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It is moving westward at 35 kph.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Opong first made landfall over San Policarpio, Eastern Samar, at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. It then made subsequent landfalls over San Fernando and Alcantara, both in Romblon, at 8:10 a.m.and 9:20 a.m. today, respectively.
After making landfall over Occidental Mindoro, the tropical cyclone will then emerge over the Mindoro Strait tonight and head towards the West Philippine Sea. It may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 27.
Due to Opong’s threat, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was hoisted over Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Batangas, the northern portion of Aklan (Makato, Tangalan, Kalibo, New Washington, Ibajay, Lezo, Malay, Nabas, Numancia, Batan, Buruanga), and Caluya Island. Residents in the said provinces will experience storm-force winds in the next 18 hours or less.
TCWS No. 2 is likewise raised over the following areas, where gale-force winds are likely to be felt in the next 24 hours or less:
- Southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, Subic, Olongapo City, Castillejos, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe)
- Bataan
- Southern portion of Pampanga (Porac, Santa Rita, Guagua, Sasmuan, Macabebe, Masantol, Santo Tomas, San Simon, Minalin, City of San Fernando, Bacolor, Floridablanca, Apalit, Lubao)
- Southern portion of Bulacan (Obando, Paombong, Bocaue, City of San Jose del Monte, Bustos, City of Malolos, City of Meycauayan, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Pandi, Plaridel, Calumpit, Santa Maria, Hagonoy, Baliuag, Bulacan, Marilao, Pulilan)
- Metro Manila
- Rizal
- Cavite
- Laguna
- Southern portion of Quezon (Pitogo, Buenavista, Lucena City, Calauag, Pagbilao, Tiaong, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Guinayangan, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, San Antonio, Alabat, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Macalelon, Mauban, Dolores, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso, Tagkawayan, San Francisco, San Andres)
- Southern portion of Camarines Sur (Ocampo, Milaor, Nabua, Buhi, Baao, Cabusao, Bato, Camaligan, Pili, Sipocot, Pamplona, Ragay, Iriga City, San Fernando, Magarao, Minalabac, Del Gallego, Balatan, Libmanan, Naga City, Bombon, Bula, Canaman, Pasacao, Sagñay, Gainza, Lupi)
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate
- Calamian Islands
- Cuyo Islands
- Northern portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, Valderrama, Barbaza, Tibiao, Patnongon, Laua-An, Bugasong)
- Rest of Aklan
- Capiz
- Northern portion of Iloilo (Estancia, Carles, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, San Enrique, City of Passi, Bingawan, Calinog, Lambunao, Dueñas)
- Northern portion of Negros Occidental (Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Cadiz City, Sagay City)
- Extreme northern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin), including Bantayan Islands
- Extreme western portion of Northern Samar (San Vicente, Capul, San Antonio)
- Extreme western portion of Samar (Tagapul-An)
Strong winds will persist in the next 36 hours or less over the following locales under TCWS No. 1:
- Pangasinan
- Rest of Zambales
- Tarlac
- Nueva Ecija
- Southern portion of Aurora (Dingalan, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)
- Rest of Pampanga
- Rest of Bulacan
- Rest of Quezon
- Camarines Norte
- Rest of Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Northern portion of Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli, San Vicente, Roxas)
- Rest of Antique
- Rest of Iloilo, Guimaras
- Central portion of Negros Occidental (Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Silay City, City of Talisay, Bacolod City, Bago City, Murcia, La Castellana, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran, City of Escalante, Toboso)
- Northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan)
- Northern and central portion of Cebu (Asturias, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu City, Balamban, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Pinamungahan, Minglanilla, City of Naga, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, Borbon, Carmen, Tuburan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Catmon, Cordova, San Remigio, Sogod, Tabuelan, Barili, City of Carcar), including Camotes Islands
- Northern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Ubay, Trinidad, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini, San Miguel, Alicia, Pilar, Dagohoy, Danao, Buenavista, Inabanga, Clarin, Sagbayan)
- Rest of Northern Samar
- Rest of Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
“Yung mga nabanggit nating lugar [na] may Wind Signal [Nos.] 3 at 2 ay makakaranas po ng masungit na panahon. Kapag sinabi nating masungit na panahon, malalakas na hangin na puwedeng makapagpatumba ng iba’t ibang uri ng pananim, puwedeng makasira ng mga bahay na gawa sa mga light materials, lumang kahoy, o iba pang istruktura na medyo weak ang pundasyon, puwede ring makapagpatumba ng ilang poste ng kuryente o billboards,” PAGASA Assistant Weather Services Chief Chris Perez said in a public briefing.
The southwest monsoon (habagat) enhanced by Opong, on the other hand, will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Palawan, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Caraga Region, and Davao Region today.
Meanwhile, Perez said Opong and the enhanced habagat will drench most of southern Luzon and Visayas today until Saturday noon, which could submerge low-lying areas and cause landslides in areas near the mountainside.
Up to torrential rains are forecast over Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Romblon, while heavy to intense rains are likely over Palawan, Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Masbate, Biliran, Marinduque, Aklan, Antique, and Capiz.
Moderate to heavy rains will also be experienced in Metro Manila, Bataan, Cavite, Rizal, Aurora, Isabela, Iloilo, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Guimaras, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.
Mariners are advised against sea travel, especially in areas where a gale warning is hoisted: the seaboards of southern Luzon and Visayas, as well as the western seaboard of Central Luzon. Waves may reach up to 6 meters in the areas, especially along coastal waters.
There is also a moderate to high-risk storm surge, possibly peaking at 3 meters, over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Calamian Islands, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Negros Occidental, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo within 24 hours.
The state weather bureau urged residents to stay away from the coast or beach, cancel all marine activities, and move to higher ground away from storm surge-prone areas.
The public, whether they are residing inside or outside the landfall point or where wind signals are hoisted, are told to stay indoors or inside evacuation centers; be prepared and alert for the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Opong; and continue monitoring the latest weather updates.
-jpv
