LUNA, Apayao – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has urged Apayao residents to prepare, be alert and keep informed with weather updates and advisories amidst Tropical Depression “Gener” as the province was placed under TCW signal No.1 by the PAGASA, as of 8AM Monday.
With this, Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. immediately ordered the suspension of classes from kinder to Grade 12 and directed DRRM personnel province-wide to intensify monitoring of landslides and flood prone areas, to prevent possible casualties or damage to properties.
“Gener” is the third tropical cyclone to hit Apayao since January 2024. PDRRM staff Jemalyn Ramos Balmocena, in a conversation said fortunately the previous typhoons left no major loss.
PAGASA’s Tropical cyclone bulletin as of 11AM revealed Gener slightly intensified while moving slowly. The center of the eye of the storm was estimated some 315 kilometers east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, moves westward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), and a maximum winds of 45kph near the center and gustiness of to 55kph.
PAGASA said Gener will likely to make landfall either in Isabela or Aurora within 24hours, but Apayao may continue to experience continuous downpour of moderate to heavy rains which may affect crop cultivation adversely.
Meantime, included under Signal No. 1 are the eastern and southern portions of Apayao (Conner, Flora, Pudtol, Santa Marcela, Luna and Kabugao), the eastern and central portions of mainland Cagayan (Piat, Santo Niño, Camalaniugan, Tuao, Lal-Lo, Enrile, Gonzaga, Alcala, Amulung, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Solana, Rizal, Santa Ana, Tuguegarao City, Gattaran, Peñablanca, Iguig, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Allacapan and Abulug), Isabela, Quirino, the eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda, Kasibu, Dupax del Norte, Quezon, Diadi, Bayombong, Ambaguio, Bagabag, Villaverde, Aritao, Bambang, Dupax del Sur and Solano), Kalinga, the eastern and central portions of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Sadanga, Bontoc, Natonin, Sabangan and Barlig), Ifugao, Aurora, the eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Bongabon, Gabaldon, Laur, General Tinio, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad and Palayan City), and the northern portion of Mainland Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta and Real) including Polillo Islands. By Arjay Baysa
