President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has described the heavy flooding in the Bicol region as a preview of what lies ahead as Severe Tropical Storm Kristine approaches landfall in Isabela tonight or tomorrow morning.
“It looks pretty clear that this one is more about the water volume that will be dropped in the areas. And unfortunately, I think it would be prudent to consider this is just the beginning. Now, we're experiencing the same phenomenon that we have been noticing. Ang bilis mag-develop nung bagyo (The storm developed so quickly),” Marcos stated during a situation briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
He referred to the projected rainfall volumes as “unprecedented.” He called for the preemptive release of water from dams that were anticipated to be affected to prevent overflow when the heavy rains arrived. “Let’s be proactive about it. Let’s not wait for the level to reach the maximum,” he urged.
In addition, Marcos directed that power rehabilitation efforts commence as soon as weather conditions permit. “Power will go out whatever we do. We follow our regular procedure. We take down the power when it is unsafe to keep the cables energized,” he said, responding to demands for immediate power restoration in affected areas.
The Department of Energy reported that 16 electric cooperatives are partially without power, while four others are entirely out of service.
When asked about the preparedness of areas within the storm's projected path, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla assured everyone that they are well-informed and have activated their disaster risk scenarios.
President Marcos also emphasized the urgency of providing relief goods to storm-stricken areas. “The storm hasn’t made landfall yet. The worst is yet to come, I’m afraid. So let’s all prepare so that the minute that we get the signal to go in, we’ll all go in,” he stated. “Airlift will go in first, and then once the public works have opened at least the main thoroughfares, everything else will go in. Health will go in, relief goods will go in.”
As of the 5 p.m. bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the eye of Kristine, which has intensified into a severe tropical storm, was located 175 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela. It moves westward at 20 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph and gusts of up to 115 kilometers per hour. Signal number 3 is currently in effect for northern Luzon.
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