ILOILO City – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned residents of Panay Island — particularly those living in low-lying and mountainous areas — to evacuate early as Tropical Storm “Tino” is expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds when it nears or possibly makes landfall over Western Visayas.
Charlie Depra, Weather Observer II of PAGASA Iloilo, said on Sunday, November 2, that the storm has shown an unpredictable path and may intensify into a typhoon before landfall.
“Wala naton ginakuha ang possibility nga mag-landfall diri sa aton. May ara kita ginatawag nga ‘code of uncertainty and probability’. Possible sia. Kahapon ang iya tracking nasa southern part sang Panay Island like Antique and southern Iloilo, pero as of now ang latest niya medyo nagsaka-saka sia sa northern portion sang Panay,” Depra explained.
The weather bureau is closely monitoring “Tino”, which is forecast to pass by Panay Island on November 4.
“Basi man sa aton forecast track, mabaskug ini sa typhoon category upon landfall, kag kinahanglan gid naton magpreparar samtang wala pa ukon medyo malayo pa ini nga bagyo ukon tropical storm,” said Depra.
He emphasized that residents living in flood-prone, coastal, and mountainous communities, as well as those in houses made of light materials, must take precautionary measures and evacuate if necessary.
“Maghlong gid kita, lalo na sa mga pumoluyo naton nga ara sa low-lying and mountainous areas… kon possible mag-evacuate na kita sa mapag-on or mataas nga lugar kay indi basta-basta nga bagyo ini. Nasa typhoon category, mabaskug ang hangin kag damo gid ang pag-ulan nga madala diri sa aton,” Depra warned.
He clarified that the rains experienced across Panay Island as of Sunday were still due to localized thunderstorms and not yet from the tropical storm itself.
PAGASA expects the effects of “Tino” to be felt in Panay Island beginning this Monday, November 3, with the most critical period on Tuesday, November 4.
“Tino” is the 20th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this year and could become the first to make landfall in Panay Island.
“So far damo naman kita bagyo nga nagsulod halin sang January diri sa PAR… pero subong amo ni ang medyo crucial sa aton kay diri banda sa aton mag-agi ini nga bagyo,” Depra said.
PAGASA also reminded the public to stay alert for more storms in the coming weeks, forecasting two to three tropical cyclones this November and one to two in December.
Earlier this year, the bureau projected that 11 to 19 tropical cyclones may affect the Philippines from June to November./PN
