NDCC sets meeting for coming of 'Emong'

05/05/2009 | 08:50 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) has called a meeting of government agencies to prepare for potential typhoon “Emong," a weather official said Tuesday.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather branch head Nathaniel Cruz said the NDCC wants precautionary measures in place soonest.

"Nagpapatawag ng meeting ang Secretary of Defense para mapaghandaan hindi lang [ng] Pagasa at early warning agencies [Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as NDCC chief called a meeting so all agencies, not just Pagasa, will be prepared for ‘Emong’]," Cruz said in an interview on dzXL radio.

Earlier, Pagasa forecasters estimated Emong to enter Philippine territory as early as Wednesday this week. Cruz said rains from Emong may be felt Thursday or Friday.

Cruz said Emong is likely to bring rains to Metro Manila, along with northern and Central Luzon.

He said he expects the meeting to alert the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to take work on flood control.

"Sa ngayon ito ay tropical storm. Dahil sa karagatan pa siya ... malamang isa itong malakas na bagyo pero hindi super typhoon category [For now, ‘Emong’ is a tropical storm but since it is still in the sea, it can gain more strength. Still we do not expect it to reach the super typhoon category]," he said.

In the meantime, Cruz advised residents in coastal areas to prepare for Emong, especially those in northern and Central Luzon.

He said areas particularly at risk include coastal villages in Pangasinan, La Union and Zambales provinces.

"Ito [ay] hindi para manakot pero para maghanda ang ating kababayan na malayo pa, maghanda na sila [We do not mean to scare people but we intend to prepare them]," he said. - GMANews.TV
Storm threatens Northern, Central Luzon

By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 14:23:00 05/05/2009

Filed Under: Weather

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) A new tropical storm is set to enter the country in the next 24 hours and could bring rains during the weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
The cyclone will be named “Emong” upon its entry into the country’s area of responsibility, Aldczar Aurelio of the agency’s weather forecasting bureau said on Tuesday.
Aurelio said the storm was moving in an east northeast direction and could hit Northern and Central Luzon.
“The storm is still outside the country’s area. It may enter by tomorrow [Wednesday],” Aurelio said.
The weather disturbance is packing winds of 64 to 100 kilometers per hour, hence its classification as a tropical storm.
“Emong” was forecast to make landfall by Friday, said PAGASA Director Prisco Nilo said.
Meanwhile, typhoon “Dante” was located on Tuesday at 840 kilometers east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora packing winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour near the center.
It was moving east northeast at 22 kilometers per hour. Aurelio said “Dante” was expected to exit the country’s area of responsibility by Wednesday morning.
Police in Metro Manila were ordered to coordinate with local government officials and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in preparation for “Emong,” said Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Rosales said police vehicles would be used to help evacuate residents in flood prone areas when necessary.
Iba na talaga ngayon, summer na summer may sunod sunod na bagyo, at galing West papuntang East ang diection, di rin kaya dadaan malapit sa Metro Manila ito?