QUEZON CITY — As of 6 p.m. Sunday, Typhoon “Pablo” with international name “Bopha” has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, located at 900 km South East of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur.
At 12 midnight today, the eye of the typhoon was located at 770 km Southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gustiness of up to 220 kph. It is moving West Northwest at 26 kph.
Pablo is expected to be at 235 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur tonight. It will be in the vicinity of Iloilo City by Tuesday evening and at 430km West of Coron Island by Wednesday evening.
Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 is up in Bohol, Biliran, Camotes Island, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Eastern Samar and Western Samar in the Visayas region.
Likewise, Signal No. 1 is raised over Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Dinagat Island, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte including Samal Island, Compostela Valley, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Camiguin in Mindanao region.
In a press briefing yesterday, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Executive Dir. Benito Ramos advised fishing boats and other small seacrafts not to venture into the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao as the typhoon is expected to bring storm surges.
Landslides are also possible, especially in the areas of Mt. Diwata and Mt. Diwalwal in Mindanao and St. Bernard in Southern Leyte.
The Department of Public Works and Highways were earlier instructed to preposition their engineering equipment in case it will be needed.
Meanwhile, Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority, said in a statement that their local disaster response and risk reduction and management councils are closely monitoring the expected effects of the typhoon.
The Philippine Coast Guard has directed its units in areas which will be directly affected by the weather disturbance to be on heightened alert.
On the other hand, Malacañang reminds the public to be alert, be prepared and to monitor at all times.
The Office of the President advises people using the social networking site, twitter to help in spreading updates and useful information, use and monitor the hashtags #PabloPH for updates on the storm and #walangpasok for announcements of class suspensions. (PND/PAGASA/NDRRMC)
