In anticipation of the impact of Typhoon Rolly (Goni), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) urged local government units in the projected path of the typhoon to undertake preemptive evacuation.

In a virtual press briefing on Friday afternoon, October 30, NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad advised residents to evacuate immediately and fix their roofings ahead of the typhoon’s landfall.

“Ngayon pa lang magsilikas na para ‘di nagmamadali a few hours bago dumating ang bagyo. Ang protocol ay nasa Oplan Listo, [ang] magpapatupad niyan ay local chief executives. Ine-encourage natin na mas maaga pag-evacuate. Mas maaga, mas maganda, mas safe sila,” Jalad said.

(As early as now, evacuate so you won’t have to rush a few hours before the typhoon’s landfall. This protocol is included in Oplan Listo, which will be implemented by local chief executives. We encourage early evacuation. The earlier, the better, so you will be safe.)

Jalad said that the strength of Typhoon Rolly can be compared to Typhoon Tisoy (Kammuri), which left at least 9 people dead and some P811 million in agricultural damage in December 2019.

“Sa tingin ko ay kasinglakas siya ng Tisoy last year. Si Typhoon Tisoy last year, mas kakaunti ang casualties natin kaysa kay Ursula, ‘yung kasunod, dahil kay Tisoy mas marami ang ating preemptive evacuations,” Jalad said.

(I think it has the same strength as Typhoon Tisoy last year. Last year, there were fewer casualties during Typhoon Tisoy than Ursula because with Tisoy, we had more preemptive evacuations.)

In a bulletin released past 5 pm on Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Typhoon Rolly intensified further over the Philippine Sea, becoming an even more powerful tropical cyclone.

The state weather bureau warned that the typhoon is not yet done intensifying as it remains over water, and could hit land with maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (km/h) to 195 km/h. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

By Sunday morning, November 1, the typhoon is seen to be off the coast of Bicol. Then it will turn and start moving toward the eastern coast of the Aurora-Quezon area, where it could make landfall on Sunday evening or early Monday morning, November 2.

Since Rolly will first come near the coast of Bicol, the province of Catanduanes is now under Signal No. 1. “Strong breeze to near gale conditions” are expected in Catanduanes within 36 hours.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it is already preparing for Typhoon Rolly even as it is still assisting those affected by Typhoon Quinta (Molave).

“Naka-alerto at naghahanda na ang kagawaran at ang mga field offices nito sa mga lugar na maaring daanan ng bagyo. Ang DSWD ay nakahandang magbigay ng tulong sa mga lokal na pamahalaan upang madagdagan ang kanilang imbentaryo ng mga family food packs at non-food items, at tulungan silang tugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng kanilang mga nasasakupan,” said DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista in a statement on Friday.

(The department and its field offices are already on standby and preparing for the storm. The DSWD is ready to provide assistance to local governments to increase their inventory of family food packs and non-food items, and to help them meet the needs of their constituents)

According to the DSWD, it has P878 million worth of goods and standby funds ready to be used for disaster response operations. – Rappler.com