Palace urges public to take precautions as ‘Maring’ hits Luzon

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday urged the public to take precautionary measures as Severe Tropical Storm Maring (international name Kompasu) is expected to bring heavy rainfall over parts of Luzon.

“We ask the public to continue to take precautionary measures, observe minimum public health standards, and cooperate with their respective local authorities in case of an evacuation,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

Roque assured that the Palace is closely monitoring the developments of the ongoing operations for “Maring” as it continues to move away from extreme Northern Luzon.

He said local government units (LGUs) are in close coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police, and the Bureau of Fire Protection to ensure immediate response operations in affected areas.

Roque noted that around 465 families or 1,585 individuals in Cagayan Valley and Eastern Visayas have already been preemptively evacuated as of 6 a.m. Monday.

“Rescue personnel and teams from the local government units are on the scene as we assure all requests for rescue and assistance are being acted upon by all relevant agencies,” he said.

Citing the report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Roque said power and water supply restoration, as well as clearing operations of roads, are underway in areas battered by “Maring”.

He added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has over PHP128 million in standby funds and around 373,737 available family food packs worth more than PHP219 million since Sunday.

“Maring” was last spotted 230 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan, according to the 8 a.m. weather bulletin released by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“Maring” packs maximum sustained winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 125 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Signal No. 2 is raised over Batanes, Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Isabela (Palanan, Divilacan, Maconacon, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, San Pablo, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quirino, Gamu, Roxas, Mallig, Quezon), Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur.

TCWS Signal No. 1 is hoisted over the rest of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, the northern portion of Bataan (Samal, Morong, Dinalupihan, Abucay, Orani, Hermosa), and the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands.

“Maring” is expected to bring heavy to intense rains over Ilocos Region, Benguet, Ifugao, Abra, and Mountain Province.

Moderate to heavy rains may prevail over Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, and the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Light to moderate, with at times heavy rains, may also be experienced over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, and the rest of Central Luzon.

Flash floods and rain-induced landslides are possible, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.