Leyte, six areas under Signal 2 as Pope set to arrive in Tacloban
January 17, 2015 5:43am
(Updated 8:22 a.m.) Due to Tropical Storm Amang (international name Mekkhala), Leyte province and six other areas were placed under Public Storm Signal Number 2 early Saturday morning, just a few hours before Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in Tacloban City.
PAGASA forecaster Samuel Duran told dzBB radio that Amang was 220 km east-southeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar at 4 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 100 kph and gusts of 130 kph.
Early Saturday morning, the Archdiocese of Palo said Pope Francis is expected to arrive at the Daniel Romualdez International Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, 45 minutes ahead of schedule.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines explained that the Pope's change of schedule was due to the weather, GMA News' Susan Enriquez reported.
No other changes to the Pope's schedule were announced.
The Pope left Villamor Air Base past 7:30 a.m. onboard a Philippine Airlines plane.
Before boarding the plane, Pope Francis approached a 49-year-old well-wisher.
Monet Reyes, 49, said she was still trembling after being approached and touched by the Pope, GMA News' Susan Enriquez reported.
"Sobrang nanlamig ako, hindi ko ma-explain... Nanginginig po ako," Reyes said in an interview aired on GMA News TV
Before dawn of Saturday, rain brought by Amang started falling over Palo - including the Palo Cathedral and the motorcade route, according to GMA News' Raffy Tima.
GMA News' Sam Nielsen of radio dzBB posted photos showing thousands of Filipinos have gathered at the airport to wait for the pope as of 3:34 a.m.
Many of those at the airport were given raincoats by Vatican organizers and non-government organizations.
Last night, Archdiocese of Palo spokesman Fr. Amadeo Alvero said, in an interview with GMA News' State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, that local organizers have met and drawn up contingency plans in case of delays in the papal itinerary.
“We are still hopeful po na mayroon pa ring magandang panahon bukas. Si archbishop nag-anyaya sa amin, sa mga parish priest na magdasal ng oratio imperata.”
From the airport, the Pope will then travel in an open vehicle to a nearby stage where he will celebrate mass, which is open to the public. That mass, according to the papal visit schedule is supposed to start at 10:00 a.m.
After the mass, Pope Francis will have lunch with Typhoon Yolanda survivors, after which he will bless the Pope Francis Center for the Poor in Palo, Leyte and meet with more Yolanda survivors at the Palo cathedral.
Heavy to intense rain
Amang had accelerated, moving west at 17 kph. "Kung hindi ito magbago ng direksyon at bilis, asahan natin maaring mamayang hapon tumama ito sa Borongan, Eastern Samar," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.
"Sa ngayon nagkakaroon ng pag-ulan lalo sa Samar province. Heavy to intense ang pag-ulan," Duran added.
Storm Signal No. 2 was up over:
Northern Samar,
Eastern Samar,
Samar,
Leyte,
Biliran,
Sorsogon, and
Masbate including Ticao Island.
Areas under Signal 2 will have stormy weather with heavy to intense rain. Coastal areas are warned against possible storm surges of less than 2 meters
Signal No. 1 was, meanwhile, up over:
Southern Leyte,
northern Cebu including Cebu City,
Camotes Island,
Capiz,
Aklan,
Dinagat Island,
Catanduanes,
Albay,
Camarines Sur,
Camarines Norte,
Burias Island,
Quezon including Polilio Island,
Laguna,
Batangas,
Marinduque,
Oriental Mindoro, and
Romblon.
Signal No. 1 could be also be raised over Cavite, Rizal, Metro Manila and Bulacan in the next six hours. — Joel Locsin/DVM/ELR/RSJ, GMA News