Residents in typhoon's expected path harvest crops, leave homes

Residents of Cagayan took advantage of calm weather on Saturday to prepare for Typhoon Dodong, which is forecast to make landfall early Sunday.

 

Cagayan was placed under Public Storm Warning Signal 3, with storm surges that may reach up to 2 meters high, according to an earlier PAGASA forecast.

 

In Iguig, farmers harvested rice a week earlier than planned so as not to lose the crops to flood if the Cagayan River overflows.

 

"Pinilit naming tapusin to," a farmer said in a report on "24 Oras". "Masisira naman to pag
magbabaha, mababasa."
 

 

In Cauayan, farmers dried corn on the streets, and planted kamote in the fields.

 

Local government in Amulung has meanwhile prepared rescue equipment, such as emergency lights and megaphones, the report said.

 

"Ready na ready na kami sa paghahanda," said the Amulung MDRRMO chief Innocencio Gacias. "Yung prepositioned goods tsaka yung medicines namin kumpleto na, pati yung kakailanganin ng search, rescue, and retrieval operations team natin, clearing operations team, Safety Team, lahat na ng team meron na."

 

The police are on full alert and motorized boats are already positioned at points along the river.

 

Residents of Sitio Barikir in Benito Soliven, Isabela  have meanwhile been asked to evacuate. The area is considered landslide-prone, as a landslide occurred three years ago. Some residents tied their roofs in place to prevent them from being blown away. 

 

"Delikado dito dahil lumulubog talaga yung banda roon," resident Benito Tumbaga said. "Kaya kailangan lilipat yung mga tao dito."

 

Fishermen in Casiguran in Aurora did not risk the waves, which were beginning to swell.

 

However, tourists in Baler opted to continue with their vacations. The hotels in the area are still fully booked, the report said.

 

"Siguro safe naman, so hindi nalang kami pupunta sa beach," a tourist said. — Jessica Bartolome/JDS, GMA News