PBBM assures gov’t preparedness as Egay dampens PH

TYPHOON MONITORING. Atmospheric scientists of the weather bureau PAGASA monitor the track of Typhoon Egay, in their headquarters in Quezon City on Tuesday (July 25, 2023). From super typhoon category and Signal No. 5 in the Babuyan Islands at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Egay has been downgraded to a typhoon. As of 3 a.m. Wednesday (July 26, 2023), Egay was moving west, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured the public of the government’s continued monitoring and preparedness for the effects of Typhoon Egay.

In a Twitter post, Marcos said the government has more than PHP173 million in standby funds that can be used for relief efforts in the aftermath of the typhoon.

“Tuluy-tuloy ang ating pagkilos upang maaksyonan ang maaring pinsalang dulot ng Super Typhoon Egay (We continue to take appropriate actions to mitigate the impact of Super Typhoon Egay),” he said.

Marcos said the government would ensure the safety of affected families in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Soccsksargen.

He said food and non-food items are available for the typhoon victims.

He also noted the deployment of search, rescue and retrieval personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Coast Guard.

He added that 93.53 percent of the affected municipalities had full restoration of power.

17,000 family food packs

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) transported 17,000 family food packs (FFPs) to Cagayan Valley for the typhoon victims.

Assistant Secretary Marlon Alagao, chief of the DSWD’s Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG), said 4,500 FFPs will be delivered to Santiago, Isabela; 8,000 to Tuguegarao City and 3,000 in Abuyog town in Cagayan province; and 1,500 to Cabarroguis, Quirino.

On Tuesday, Alagao informed DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian that relief goods in Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) field offices are ready for distribution.

Gatchalian earlier directed DSWD Cagayan Valley Regional Director Lucia Alan to conduct an inventory of FFPs.

Alan said the DSWD has a stockpile of 12,000 FFPs, including 1,000 prepositioned for the second district areas composed of Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Calayan, Claveria, Lasam, Pamplona, Piat, Rizal, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes and Santo Niño.

Another 6,000 FFPs are stockpiled in the Lallo warehouse, capable to cover the northernmost towns of Aparri, Sta. Ana and the nearby Munis, he added.

Egay made landfall in Aparri, Cagayan at 3:10 a.m. Wednesday, according to the 8 a.m. weather bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA said many areas in Luzon would continue to experience strong winds as Egay wobbles the coastal waters near Fuga Island in Aparri.

Egay packs maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.

Gusty conditions due to Egay and the southwest monsoon will also prevail over Luzon and the Visayas.

Both Egay and the southwest monsoon will also cause rough to very high seas over coastal waters along the seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas.

Sea travel is risky for most vessels, and all mariners have been advised to remain in port or seek safe harbor until winds and waves subside.

Egay is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday, PAGASA said.