PREPARE, BRACE FOR PEPITO – REVILLA

SENATE Committee on Public Works Chairman Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. on Thursday  asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units (LGUs) in Luzon to ensure that preparations for tropical storm Pepito are completed before its estimated landfall on Saturday.

This  as typhoon Ofel which struck Northern Luzon reached typhoon Signal No. 5.

“Eto pa lang nga si Ofel, paparating naman agad itong si Pepito,” Revilla said.

“So we must spare no time in cleaning up after Ofel and bracing for Pepito,” he added.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA), “the possibility of rapid intensification is not ruled out. Since this tropical cyclone may reach typhoon category while over the Philippine Sea, the possibility… to reach super typhoon category prior to landfall is also not ruled out.”

“Kaya kailangan masiguro ng DPWH at ng mga tatamaang LGUs ngayon pa lang, na malinis at maluwag ang mga daluyan ng tubig at ma-clear lahat ng mga maaaring maging debris,” Revilla said.

The lawmaker also emphasized that residents in areas to be affected should be on alert and ready to heed calls of authorities to evacuate, when needed.

“Kailangan handa rin ang ating mga kababayan,” the solon explained.

Revilla likewise cited the importance of pre-positioning emergency and relief goods in safe on-site areas so that once they are needed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would immediately be able to distribute them.

“We are hoping na wala masyadong pinsala. Preparations are in place,” he said.

“Pero dapat handa pa rin tayo for whatever that may come. Dapat safe on ground na lahat ng kailangan at mga tauhan, para anuman ang mangyari, agad natin itong matutugunan,” Revilla said.

Severe tropical storm Pepito officially entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) late Thursday evening as Typhoon ‘Ofel’ (Usagi) continues to weaken though it remains a threat over parts of northern Luzon.

PAGASA placed several areas across Luzon and Visayas under tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 1 in light of the new tropical storm, which was located at 945 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas as of 11:00 p.m. Thursday.

“Pepito” is expected to develop into full-blown typhoon by Friday and may further intensify into super typhoon by Saturday.

It was moving westward at 35 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 125 km/h.

The state weather bureau said !Pepito” may landfall over the eastern coast of Central Luzon during the weekend based on its track forecast. This may still shift, however, within the range of the forecast confidence cone and possibly exit PAR by Monday.

Meawhile, “Ofel” continues to weaken over the coastal waters of Calayan and is expected to exit PAR by Friday until Saturday over the sea west of Batanes.