Philippines ready to face super typhoon Megi
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Even as disaster response officials said the government is well-prepared to mitigate the effects of weather disturbance to be caused by super typhoon Megi, residents in the low-lying areas of Cagayan Valley in Cagayan province kept evacuating to higher grounds as Megi keeps moving toward their home province.
The residents voluntarily left their home starting Saturday, a day before local agencies were scheduled to perform evacuation operations, said Benito Ramos, executive officer of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Ramos, the concurrent administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, said the voluntary evacuation of the residents, particularly those along the Cagayan river, were ongoing as of press time, adding those residents went to their relatives living in higher grounds.
In one village, Ramos said, at least 40 families have volunteered to leave. But he could not give an overall number. " We cannot give a count because its ongoing," he said.
The residents have learned their lessons from last year's typhoon Parma that caused massive flooding in the area and claimed many lives, said Ramos.
Megi is expected to make a landfall on Monday in Cagayan province, which is located at the northeastern corner of Luzon island.
The government will not be responsible to those who will refuse to heed the call of the authorities to evacuate from the risk areas, Ramos said, adding that army soldiers have been going to the villages to inform the residents of the "super typhoon".
The Philipine National Police (PNP) is on full alert effective Sunday so police officers can respond to any eventuality, said Senior Supt. Agrimero Cruz, PNP spokesman.
"We are on full alert nationwide and our equipment are now prepositioned in northern Luzon," said Cruz, adding that Special Action Force and Maritime Group personnel are on stand in Metro Manila also to render possible assistance.
Military forces in northern Luzon have made some deployments as part of their preparations for the typhoon, said Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said: "The Philippine Navy is continuously monitoring events in relation to typhoon Juan (local name for Meji). Its rescue teams are prepared to help residents and local government units. It enjoins everyone to be vigilant and cooperate with local officials to ensure their safety. "
"(We) are all prepared, all systems go,..All the preparations are in place..By department, by agency, they are all prepared," Ramos said of the government departments and agencies that are members of the NDRRMC.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has prepositioned food and non-food items for the possible typhoon victims in the regions which will be likely hit by Meji, Ramos said, adding that the Department of Education has also suspended classes at all levels in concerned regions, and the school buildings will be serving as evacuation centers if necessary.
The Philippine Coast Guard has issued advisories to fishermen in Cagayan not to venture into fishing during the typhoon to avoid loss of lives, said Ramos, adding that the residents of Metro Manila will be feeling the effects of Meji in terms of rains.
"We will probably feel the rains because its (typhoon) radius is 300 kilometers. The wind will not be that strong but because of the gale effect, we will experience rains here (in Metro Manila)," said Ramos.
