TROPICAL storm “Helen” [international codename: Megi] entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday, threatening Northern Luzon, including Batanes province which was recently devastated by two storms, called “Ferdie” and “Gener”.
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As of 7 a.m. Sunday, the state weather bureau PAGASA said Typhoon Helen was located at 1,080 km East of Aparri, Cagayan or 1,085 km East of Calayan, Cagayan.
“Helen” has maximum sustained winds of up to 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 175 kph, it added.
Helen reportedly continues to move in a west-northwest direction, according to PAGASA.
Typhoon Helen is forecast to be at 510 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes by Monday morning and at 255 kilometers north of the same town by Tuesday, September 27.
Forecast track of Typhoon Helen as of September 25, 5 pm.
Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Saturday asked communities to prepare for the storm even she assured the public that the government is already on “blue alert” status and the DSWD has prepared assistance, if needed.
Occasional rains and gusty winds will prevail over the rest of extreme Northern Luzon while Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Western Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.
PAGASA also monitored yesterday several thunderstorms that brought moderate rainfall in several parts of the country, including Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog region, Cebu and Zamboanga peninsula.
Other areas will have slight to moderate seas incurred by light to moderate winds from the west to southwest.
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The DSWD Disaster Response Assistance and Management Bureau (DReAMB) and Field Officec-2 are also mapping out an emergency shelter assistance and cash-for-work program to benefit 2,241 families with damaged houses.
