The Manila Times

‘Nailed roofs, sheltered livestock, stored crops’

ED PAOLO SALTING

Residents here are gearing up for Super Typhoon “Betty” (international name: “Mawar”) as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that although Betty will not make landfall, it is expected to pass closest to the province.

Pagasa said that Betty packed 195 kilometers per hour (kph) winds and gustiness of up to 240 kph when it entered PAR early Saturday. The weather bureau has raised Signal No. 1 in parts of Northern Luzon.

It said that the super typhoon will move slowly in a northwestward direction over the waters east of Batanes by Monday and may become almost stationary before turning northeastward on Wednesday.

For farmer Vilma Valenciano, it is all about protecting their crops and livestock. She said they have stored their crops in the granary and led their animals to safe shelters.

“If a typhoon is coming, we usually do our best to ensure our crops are safe. As an example, for our bananas, we take down their leaves for them not to be knocked down easily by the winds,” Valenciano said.

“We also take care of our root crops like yam and sweet potatoes by digging canals near them so that they do not get washed away,” she added.

“For our livestock, we usually lead them to secluded areas and also fully secure their pens and cages so if the typhoon hits, they will not be blown away by the winds,” she said.

Batanes junior tour guide Winston

James Cataluna said that residents have also begun “nailing the roofs of their houses, tying them down or putting sandbags if they can’t do the first two, and storing food and other essentials.”

“For the windows, we usually put ‘tapangko’ or boards on them, so no wind could get in the houses. As for our fishing boats, bring them very close to shore or onto the main road itself so that they will not be destroyed,” he added.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is also getting ready.

Marvin Pama, head of the local chapter of the PDRRMO in Ivana, said its mayor Celso Batallones called for a pre-disaster assessment meeting last Thursday.

“Our goods and necessary preparations are already set in place as we are ahead in terms of preparation. We have already activated our evacuation plan, and all the stakeholders have been called to know the materials they need,” Pama said.

“In addition, our coordination with Pagasa has been constant, and we are always monitoring the situation,” he said.

Before the Philippines, Betty wreaked havoc in Guam with more than 200 kph winds.

It is the strongest typhoon to hit the country since “Yolanda” (Haiyan) in 2013, which left a swathe of death and destruction. It was also considered the most powerful ever recorded.

Batanes, also called “home of the winds,” is no stranger to typhoons as it lies between the Pacific Ocean and the West Philippine Sea.

Tourists marvel at the stone houses that are mostly built around the province as protection against the storm.

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2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://manilatimes.pressreader.com/article/281543705299432

The Manila Times