Cagayan prepares for Julian's effects

The province of Cagayan has laid out preparations for the possible effects of Tropical Depression Julian, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said on Saturday.

"'Yung mga food and non-food items sa part po ng province, may dalawang warehouse tayo, naka-preposition na sa warehouses natin," Cagayan PDRRMO head Ruelie Rapsing said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(The food and non-food items were already prepositioned in our two warehouses.)

So far, no preemptive evacuations have been conducted yet, Rapsing said.

"Sa northeastern municipalities, wala pang report ang ating mga MDRRMOs kaugnay sa evacuation," he said.

(In the northeastern municipalities, there have been no reports yet of evacuation from our MDRRMOs.)

At 5 a.m. on Saturday, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over three areas as Julian traverses the Philippine Sea.

TCWS No. 1 was hoisted over the following areas:

• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands;
• the northeastern portion of Isabela (San Pablo, Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano); and
• the eastern portion of Apayao (Luna, Pudtol, Santa Marcela, Flora).

Julian's eye was estimated to be located at 4 a.m. on Saturday at 400 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and with gustiness of up to 70 kph.

The tropical depression was moving southward at 10 kph. It is forecast to make landfall over Batanes by Monday afternoon or evening as a typhoon.

PAGASA said areas under TCWS No. 1 may expect strong winds in 36 hours.

Cagayan including Babuyan Islands will have rains with gusty winds due to Julian with the possibility of flash floods or landslides occurring due to moderate to heavy with at times intense rains, PAGASA said.

On Saturday morning, Cagayan has so far not had heavy rains, Rapsing said.

"So far, sa southern municipalities, wala pa kaming nararamdaman. Makulimlim lang ang kalangitan. Pero doon sa northeastern municipalities, na nakataas ang signal no. 1, medyo panaka-naka ang pag-aambon," he said.

(So far, in the southern municipalities, we have not felt it (the effects) yet. The skies are cloudy. But in the northern municipalities where TCWS No. 1 is in effect, there have been light rain showers.)

"No sail policy na tayo since apektado ang mga shoreline natin," Rapsing said.

(We have a no sail policy since our shorelines are affected.)

PAGASA will issue the next advisory at 11 a.m. on Saturday. —KG, GMA Integrated News