Duterte monitors Typhoon Rosita

“I should be there during typhoons. There is one coming. I’ll make my round of calls tonight (Sunday),” Duterte said in his speech during former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano’s birthday party in Davao City. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he is monitoring Typhoon Rosita (international name Yutu) which is expected to make landfall over the Isabela-Aurora area on Tuesday morning.

“I should be there during typhoons. There is one coming. I’ll make my round of calls tonight (Sunday),” Duterte said in his speech during former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano’s birthday party in Davao City.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Rosita weakened and slightly changed course but continues to pose threats towards Northern Luzon.

The typhoon packs maximum sustained winds of up to 170 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 210 kilometer per hour.

PAGASA already placed Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quirino, Polillo Island, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya under tropical cyclone warning Signal No. 2.

Most of these areas have been devastated by Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) which also hit Northern Luzon last month.

Ompong left over 90 people dead, majority of them were victims of landslides in Cordillera Administration Region.

Duterte appealed to the Commission on Audit (COA) not to make life difficult for local government units when it comes to the use of funds for the typhoon victims.

He said relief and other much-needed assistance should be extended unhampered to the typhoon victims.

During his visits in the Ompong-affected areas last month, Duterte received complaints from LGU officials that COA does not allow cash advances for the procurement of building materials intended for the typhoon victims.