The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Sunday some of its units are now on “red alert” and ready to assist Filipinos in need as Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) continues to ravage Luzon areas.
AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Padilla said that the AFP has activated its national response cluster in coordination with other government agencies. Specifically for the AFP, search and rescue teams were deployed to locate missing individuals and help those in distress.
“Ang ating Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas, naka-red alert po tayo ngayon, especially dito sa mga dadaanan nitong bagyo, ‘yung track po niya,” Padilla said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
(The Armed Forces of the Philippines is on red alert right now, especially in areas where Pepito will pass through.)
Three units of AFP are currently on red alert: the 2nd Infantry Division, the 5th Infantry Division, and the 7th Infantry Division. Members of the civilian active auxiliary and reservists are also ready to extend help if needed.
Padilla said the AFP also committed 3,312 of its land assets, 120 sea assets, and 40 air assets to provide assistance.
She said that the AFP is also working with government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as well as Philippine National Police (PNP) amid Pepito’s onslaught.
As of 5 p.m., Super Typhoon Pepito was now over Quirino Province after it made its second landfall in the vicinity of Dipaculao, Aurora, PAGASA said Sunday afternoon.
According to the state weather bureau’s 5 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, Pepito made landfall at 3:20 p.m.
It has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 305 kph, and moving northwestward at 25 kph.
The following areas under Signal No. 5 are expected to experience winds of 185 kph or higher in at least 12 hours, which may cause extreme threat to life and property:
- The central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Baler, Dinalungan, Maria Aurora, Casiguran, San Luis)
- the southern portion of Quirino (Nagtipunan)
- the southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Kasibu, Aritao, Bambang)
One person reportedly died in Daet, Camarines Norte due to the effects of Pepito, according to its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Classes for Monday, November 18, 2024, have been suspended in some areas due to the super typhoon. — BM, GMA Integrated News
