DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/06 January) – Preemptive evacuation of residents in areas prone to floods and landslides have been ordered in New Bataan in Compostela Valley province and Veruela and Sta. Josefa towns in Agusan del Sur as another low pressure area (LPA) has been spotted near Caraga and Davao regions, the second in four days and the third since Typhoon Pablo struck the same regions on December 4.
The weather bureau had earlier said that if the LPA intensifies into a tropical storm, it will be named “Bising.”
In its 5 p.m. January 6 advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the LPA was estimated at 510 kms southeast of Mindanao as of 4 p.m. and that Mindanao will experience “cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.”
Its 11 a.m. advisory said the LPA was spotted at 700 km southeast of Mindanao as of 8 a.m.
“This weather disturbance is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms in Mindanao particularly in the regions of Caraga and Davao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” PAGASA said.
In New Bataan, Marlon Esperanza, information officer, told MindaNews at 3:18 p.m that an advisory had been sent out to “all barangays, especially near riverbanks.”
Esperanza said a total of 264 families from five puroks had been ordered to evacuate. These are Puroks 6, 9 and 11 of Barangay Cabinuangan and Puroks 6 and 7 of Sitio Taytayan, Barangay Andap.
On January 2, the municipality ordered a forced evacuation of residents from the same puroks due to an LPA that later became Typhoon Auring.
In Veruela, Agusan del Sur, Mayor Salimar Mondejar said at 3:13 p.m. he and the Philippine National Police are going around town informing residents about another LPA.
In Sta. Josefa, town also in Agusan del Sur, Mayor Glenn Plaza said advisories had also been sent out to the barangays but as of 5:28 p.m., no evacuations had been done. “Wala pa. Ayaw pa nilang lumikas. Pero nakamonitor ang ating mga rescuers” (None yet. They still do not want to evacuate. But our rescuers are monitoring).
He said they have designated evacuation centers, gym and schools spared by typhoon Pablo for those who will be evacuated.
After Typhoon Pablo on December 4, an LPA was spotted towards Caraga and Davao regions, with an expected landfall in Dinagat islands. The LPA, which intensified into Typhoon Quinta, made landfall in Eastern Visayas instead. On January 2, another LPA was also spotted near the same regions, later classified into Typhoon Auring.
Caraga region comprises the provinces of Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte and the cities of Bislig, Tandag, Surigao, Bayugan, Butuan and Cabadbaran.
Davao region comprises the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley and the cities of Tagum, Panabo, Samal, Digos, Davao and Mati. (MindaNews)