QUEZON CITY, Aug 20 — Typhoon “Ineng” with international name “Goni” has slowed down and maintained its strength as it moves toward extreme Northern Luzon.
According to PAGASA, 4:00 am today, the eye of Typhoon “Ineng” was located based on all available data at 445 km East of Calayan, Cagayan (19.0N, 125.7E) with maximum sustained winds of 180 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph. It is forecast to move West at 13 kph.
If the typhoon maintains this speed it is forecast to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Sunday evening.
All stakeholders should anticipate that it will directly affect extreme northern Luzon and enhance Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), which will bring light to moderate rains over Visayas and Mindanao and moderate to heavy rains over northern and western Luzon beginning Thursday evening until next week.
PAGASA warns that the eastern seaboard of Luzon and seaboards of northern and eastern Samar will be rough to very rough and will be dangerous to all sea vessels.
PAGASA also added that occasional rains will be experienced over Metro Manila, Western Visayas, rest of Ilocos Region and of Central Luzon and the provinces of Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Palawan, Mindoro, Batangas and Cavite. Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected over the rest of Luzon and of Visayas. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Mindanao.
Batanes Group of Islands and Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands are under Public Storm Signal No. 2 and are warned for possible storm surges of up to more than 4.1 meters along the coastal areas.
Signal No. 1 was raised over the provinces of Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte and Mt. Province.
Earlier, Department of Interior and Local Government – Disaster and Information Coordinating Center (DILG-CODIX) chief Allan Tabel said that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Manangement Council (NDRRMC) and all its member agencies and offices in Regions 1, 2, 3, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have been placed under red alert beginning 12 noon of Wednesday to prepare for Typhoon Ineng. This means that they must report to their headquarters 24/7 until the alert has been lowered.
Tabel stressed that local government unit officials and the public “should not only look at the the threat of the typhoon, but also the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat” in conducting their preparedness and response.
Project NOAH hazard impact analysis indicated that in the National Capital Region (NCR), the cities of Manila, Makati, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela may experience 100-mm of rain due to Ineng-enhanced Habagat, which may trigger landslides and floods.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Offices in the said affected areas are all on alert and has readied ₱2,301,156 standby funds; 26,177 food packs and ₱406,436 worth of food and non-food items. (PND)
