BRACING FOR 'AMBO'. Piddig, Ilocos Norte Mayor Eduardo Guillen presides a meeting with members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in preparation for Typhoon "Ambo" (Vongfong) on Friday (May 15, 2020). The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Resiliency Council (PDRRMRC) of Ilocos Norte has issued a temporary ban on fishing due to prevailing rough seas. (Photo from Piddig, Ilocos Norte's Facebook page)
LAOAG CITY – As Typhoon "Ambo" (Vongfong) is making its presence felt in various parts of the country including this northern part of Luzon, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Resiliency Council (PDRRMRC) in Ilocos Norte has advised fishers to avoid going out into the sea for any fishing activity.
The local chief executives from the 21 towns and two cities of the province have convened a pre-disaster risk assessment conference on Friday following the state weather bureau’s bulletin placing Ilocos Norte under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 along with mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, the rest of Aurora and Oriental Mindoro.
In the coastal village of Davila, Pasuquin town, village chief Elviro Agoo on Friday advised fisherfolks not to venture out to the sea in order to avoid mishaps resulting in loss of lives.
“We reiterate to all our fishermen to stay home as the Philippine Coast Guard has alerted us of rough to a very rough sea condition and a wave height ranging from 2.8 to 4.5 meters,” he said.
Since Thursday afternoon, some parts of the province had been experiencing light to moderate rains, prompting some residents to trim branches of tall trees near their houses and clear some waterways.
“We urge our residents to stay vigilant and be prepared for possible landslides and flash floods in low-lying areas,” said Marcel Tabije, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (PNA)
