MANILA, Philippines (AP) —As Super Typhoon Karding begins to be felt in Metro Manila on Monday, the work being done in the Senate’s office in Pasay City has been suspended.
“Because Super Typhoon Karding is on its way, Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri has proclaimed the suspension of operations at the Senate for tomorrow, September 26, 2022,” Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said in an advisory on the previous day, September 25, 2022.
According to Bantug, the Senate session will get back to work on Tuesday at three o’clock in the afternoon. The rest of Metro Manila is still under Signal No. 3 as of 2:00 p.m., according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). According to Pagasa, Karding was located at Infanta Quezon, 115 kilometers east, or 76 kilometers east of the Polillo Islands, on Sunday before noon. At its center, it recorded maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (KPH), with gustiness reaching up to 240 kph.
On Monday, September 26, due to the impending arrival of the powerful super typhoon “Karding,” the entire municipal government made the decision to cancel classes at all schools, public and private alike. Work has also been paused in the Manila City Hall; however, agencies and offices involved in responding to disasters and emergencies will continue to operate normally. And it was noted that the decision to suspend employees of private enterprises would be left up to their employers.
Because of “karding,” the NDRRMC has suspended operations in eight regions. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has advised President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that the suspension of work in government offices in eight regions be implemented in preparation for the heavy rainfall that is expected to be brought by Super Typhoon Karding, which is expected to make landfall late on Sunday night.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive, the officer-in-charge Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense, Jose Faustino Jr., conveyed the following message: “We would like to respectfully inform the President of the anticipated heavy to intense torrential rainfall that Super Typhoon Karding will bring about and the hoisting of Wind Signal No. 5. According to Faustino, “Karding” may make landfall on Sunday night in the vicinity of the northern portion of Quezon or the eastern portion of Aurora, and it may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday. This is based on the most recent track by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In this context, the NDRRMC proposes suspending government office operations in the national capital area, including provinces in regions 1, 2, CAR, 3, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and 5, on September 26, 2022 (Monday), except for frontline agencies that are providing emergency services, “he said. This includes provinces in Regions 1, 2, CAR, 3, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa.
The determination of the regions, as stated by Faustino, also the chairperson of the NDRRMC, is based on the analysis determined by the NDRRMC’s Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment. Additionally, according to the head of the DND, it has been recommended that classes be canceled across the board in all public schools at all grade levels. This is done to prevent untoward incidents and ensure the general public’s safety.
Faustino continued by saying that the decision on the appropriate course of action for private businesses, offices, and schools is left up to the discretion of the leaders of those institutions. In addition, he mentioned that the NDRRMC is looking forward to the Chief Executive’s evaluation and approval of the issue. Military units issued warnings.
In the meantime, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Sunday that it has already notified all of its units about the possibility of participating in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations in regions that are anticipated to be impacted by “Karding.”
These include the Northern Luzon Command, Southern Luzon Command, Western Command, and any forces that fall under their respective commands’ joint operational supervision. The mandatory evacuation of citizens who live in vulnerable locations is currently being assisted by deploying more trucks and staff.
In addition, air and naval assets are on standby, ready to be deployed as soon as the weather permits, to assist with aerial assessment, transport, and evacuation operations. In the meantime, the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA), whose area of responsibility includes Central Luzon and parts of Northern Luzon, as well as the 525th Engineer Combat Battalion, have prepared HADR teams. The 69th Infantry Battalion, 70th Infantry Battalion, 71st Infantry Battalion, and 84th Infantry Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division have marshaled disaster response teams that will be deployed to save lots of lives in Central Luzon. The region anticipated to feel the brunt of “Karding,” the third super typhoon to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year, is supposed to be Central Luzon.
“In fulfillment of our oath to serve the people and secure the land,” he continued, “your Philippine Army is often able to lend a helping hand to our kababayans in disaster-stricken areas.” “Rest assured, your Philippine Army can usually lend assistance to our kababayans in calamity-stricken areas.”
