OCD urges Luzon residents, LGUs to prepare for Leon

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has urged residents and local government units in Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Bicol to prepare for the impact of Typhoon Leon.

OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno said local government units must intensify their information campaigns regarding hazards and risks associated with weather disturbances, ensuring that their constituents are informed in advance. 

He said Bicol was still recovering from the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Monday ordered mandatory evacuations in areas identified as high-risk due to the anticipated adverse weather conditions from Leon.

According to PAGASA’s 11 p.m. advisory on Tuesday, Leon is forecast to rapidly intensify and will likely be a super typhoon or almost a super typhoon intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes.

It will be closest to Batanes from Thursday early morning to noon time. A landfall in Batanes is also not ruled out.

Signal No. 2 has been raised over the following areas. They will experience  winds of 62 kph to 88 kph over the next 24 hours:

• Batanes
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, Quezon, San Mariano, Naguilian, Dinapigue, Delfin Albano, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Gamu, Mallig, Maconacon, Burgos, City of Cauayan, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, Aurora, San Manuel)
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• the northern and eastern portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
• the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
• Ilocos Norte

The following areas under Signal no. 1 may expect winds of 39 kph to 61 kph or intermittent rains over the next 36 hours:

• the rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• the rest of Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• the rest of Abra
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• the eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Carranglan, Pantabangan, Laur, Rizal)
• Aurora
• the northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan)
• the northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras, Caramoran)

—NB, GMA Integrated News