MANILA, July 4 (PNA) — The Palace advised the public to monitor Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) daily bulletin with regards to the Tropical Storm Egay for its safety.
In a radio interview on Saturday, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte warned areas declared by PAGASA at Typhoon Signal No. 1.
Valte told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that by monitoring PAGASA’s announcements, communities affected by the typhoon could do the necessary preparations.
Once PAGASA made an announcement, local government units (LGUs) have anywhere between 10 to 18 hours lead time to carry out preemptive evacuation, Valte said.
Asked about the national government’s instructions to the LGUs, Valte said: “Kapag sinabi po ng PAGASA na ito na ang storm signal at binigyan na kayo ng abiso ay sumunod na tayo at gumawa na ng preemptive evacuation at ihanda na po ang mga assets natin.”
She also said that the regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development were also ready to release prepositioned relief goods should there be a need.
“Kasama po sa mga prepositioning natin ang mga gamot, galing po ito sa Department of Health at ihanda na rin po natin ‘yung mga clearing equipment kung kakailanin at siguraduhin po nating ligtas ang mga pagdadalhan po nating evacuation centers para naman po sa ating mga kababayan,” she said.
“Alam na po natin ‘yung proseso. Kailangan lang nating gumalaw nang mabilis kapag naibigay na po ng PAGASA ang abiso kung saan po dadaan at gaano po kalakas kung sakali ang bagyo.”
As of 11 a.m. Saturday, PAGASA reported that Tropical Storm Egay slightly accelerated and moves closer to Northern Luzon. Egay has maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph, according to PAGASA.
The weather bureau said the storm is expected to be 90 km East Southeast of Aparri, Cagayan, or over the Eastern coast of Cagayan by Sunday morning. (PNA)