It was literally the “calm before the storm” in some towns of southern Cebu since fine weather prevailed in their areas yesterday morning.
But local officials did not take any chances and instead used the opportunity to prepare for Tropical Storm Vinta (International Name: Tembin), as the storm increased strength and was expected to barrel through the southern section of Mindanao and the Visayas, including southern Cebu, by today.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) hoisted Storm Signal No. 1 over southern Cebu and 14 other areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Expected to take the brunt of the storm are towns and cities in Northern Mindanao, particularly Surigao del Sur, where it was projected to make landfall between late Thursday to early Friday.
Placed under Storm Signal Number 2 were Siquijor, southern Negros Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Northern Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Storm Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Southern Leyte, southern portion of Leyte, southern Cebu, Bohol, southern Negros Occidental , Dinagat Islands, Misamis Occidental, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, rest of Davao Oriental, northern Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del Norte.
In Cebu, the areas under Storm Signal Number 1 were the cities of Carcar and Toledo, and the towns of Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Santander, Samboan, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan, Alegria, Badian, Moalboal, Ronda, Alcantara, Dumanjug, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, and Barili.
The storm blew winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 120 kph. It was last spotted 200 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, moving 21 kph westward, Pagasa said.
Pagasa also warned of possible storm surges, with waves reaching up to 4.1 meters, in the coasts of areas with storm signals.
Canceled sea, air travels
Even before Vinta hit the Visayas, at least 1, 401 passengers were left stranded at the ports of Cebu City and province after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Cebu canceled yesterday all trips bound for Leyte, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City and Nasipit, Surigao del Norte.
Passengers of Cebu Pacific flights bound for Visayas and Mindanao, in an advisory posted on the airline’s Facebook page, were advised to rebook their scheduled trips on Dec. 21 to Dec. 24, or avail of a refund since their flights were canceled due to the threat of Vinta.
Ahmed Cuizon, regional director of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB -7), also ordered the cancellation of all bus trips bound for Dumaguete City.
Ten Philippine Airlines (PAL) domestic flights were also canceled, or those from Cebu to Surigao, Camiguin, Ozamis, Cagayan and Siargao and vice versa; and from Manila to Dipolog, Butuan, Ozamis, Cotabato and Cagayan de Oro and vice versa.
Bad weather in entire Cebu
Pagasa-Mactan chief Al Quiblat told Cebu Daily News by phone yesterday that scattered and widespread rains may also be experienced in the central and northern parts of the province.
“Southern Cebu is close to Vinta’s eye, with a distance of at least 100 kilometers. But the storm has a diameter of 400 kilometers, big enough to cover the whole of Cebu. It’s the reason why bad weather is also expected in the entire province,” said Quiblat.
But he assured it was unlikely that Vinta would make another landfall in southern Cebu since the track of its eye showed the storm was headed for Northern Mindanao.
“We can only determine if it will change its course after it will make its landfall in Caraga region on Friday,” said Quiblat.
As of last night, light to moderate rains were already felt in the southern parts of Cebu, and may intensify by today, according to Pagasa-Mactan.
“Once again, we’re urging LGUs (local government units) and the public not to be complacent on Vinta especially that Christmas is drawing near. We never really know the extent of the storm’s damage, that’s why we have to be prepared,” said Quiblat.
Pagasa forecasted Vinta’s position to be between the seas of Sulu and Palawan by Sunday morning, or Christmas Eve. This means, Quiblat said, that Cebuanos can expect an improvement in the weather on Christmas Day.
“Chances are high for fair weather in Cebu by Christmas Eve, on December 24. Because by that time, the storm has already exited the Visayas area,” he added.
South preparations
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) advised areas in southern Cebu under Signal No. 1 to start stockpiling food and emergency kits and medicines, mobilize their responders and heavy equipment, and to regularly monitor areas prone to landslides and flash floods.
The PDRRMO said the towns of Dumanjug, Ronda, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Alcantara, Boljoon, and Malabuyoc, and Carcar City are prone to landslides, particularly their mountain villages.
It also stressed the importance of information dissemination to LGUs, which it cited as a crucial factor in achieving zero-casualty when Tropical Storm Urduja passed through northern Cebu last Saturday.
“While Vinta is yet to arrive, we keep on telling municipalities and cities that information about the storm, and its effects, should be relayed down to the barangay (village) level. In this way, the public can expect what’s going to happen, which will enable them to respond to any signs of imminent danger,” said PDRRMO officer Kathy dela Calzada.
She added: “As of now, we have around P48 million as Quick Response Fund (QRF) for 2017, and it is still enough to be spent on rehabilitation efforts in case Vinta will leave damages in southern Cebu. But we’re urging everyone to be prepared, and don’t be complacent just because we have sufficient funds,” explained dela Calzada.
Boljoon
The entry of Vinta meant another burden for Boljoon, a fifth-class town located 105 km southeast of Cebu City, since six of its 11 barangays are still under a state of calamity, two months after a landslide struck and forced hundreds of individuals to flee.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Boljoon has been doubling its efforts to ensure the safety of everyone, said Eutemio Ternate, acting chief of Boljoon MDRRMO,
Ternate said he has so far alerted the Boljoon Police Station and the Bureau of Fire Protection – Boljoon (BFP – Boljoon) are already on standby and ready for deployment in case a forced and massive evacuation is needed to transfer over 50 families residing on riverbanks and mountain barangays.
“There are around 30 to 50 families living in the riverbanks alone. We have already notified them that unless they voluntarily relocate to safer areas, we will conduct a forced and massive evacuation if it starts to rain non-stop,” said Ternate.
The Boljoon Sports Complex was being readied as an evacuation center, which can accommodate at least 5,000 individuals, he said.
“Starting on Thursday evening, we have search and rescue, medical, and engineering teams deployed in every barangay. Our food packs and emergency kits are also ready. We already have canned goods, noodles, and rice enough to supply everyone in Boljoon,” Ternate stated.
Ginatilan
Ginatilan Mayor Dean Michael Singco said they coordinated with officials from the Department of Education (DepEd)-Ginatilan in order to use public schools as evacuation centers.
“We already advised our residents, particularly in the mountain and coastal barangays, for the possibility of forced and massive evacuation anytime.
Our food supply is also ready for distribution while some members of our disaster team is monitoring the track of the storm,” Singco said.
In Samboan, Ginatilan’s neighboring town, Mayor Emerito Calderon said the evacuation centers in each of their 15 barangays have been readied since Thursday to shelter evacuees.
“We experienced fair weather (yesterday) morning, and we took the chance to double-time our preparations so that by night, when the rains are expected to start, everything is already in place,” said Calderon. /with INQUIRER.NET