(Eagle News) — The local government of Itogon, Benguet has implement forced evacuation of its residents near the site of a landslide that killed more than 50 people due to Typhoon Ompong, as another typhoon entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Even though typhoon Paeng has no direct effect yet in any part of the country, Itogon mayor Victorio Palangdan enforced evacuation of residents near the landslide sites to make sure there will be no more casualties in the area.
Mayor Palangdan said that as early as Saturday directed authorities and barangay officials have warned residents of the new typhoon approaching the country which could bring a new series of landslides in the area.
As forecasted by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Typhoon “Paeng” with an international name “Trami” would bring light to moderate rains starintg mid-week which could cause more landslides.
“Sa Cordillera area kahit moderate rains or thunderstorms, possible pa rin mag-cause ng landslides so pinapag-ingat natin ang mga kababayan sa bulubundukin kung pwede umalis na sa lugar na prone sa landslides,” Rene Paciente of PAGASA said in a press conference.
Palangdan said evacuation procedures have been enforced in the residents of Barangay Ucab and Barangay Luneta as per advice from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
The vicinities of Level 070 and First Gate in Barangay Ucab in Itogon had been declared as ground zero by the authorities.
Political Adviser Secretary Francis Tolentino on Saturday also ordered the preemptive and forced evacuation of the residents in all of the declared danger zones.