At least 8,000 individuals have been evacuated in the Cagayan Wednesday due to typhoon Leon, according to the Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

“Iyong na-evacuate po natin as of noon yesterday 8,000 individuals po sa nine municipalities ng Cagayan,” Cagayan PDRRMO Head Ruelie Rapsing said in a televised briefing.

“Siguro, kung tuluy-tuloy iyong sunny day ngayon and clear skies baka puwede na natin silang pauwiin bago maggabi po.”

Rapsing said the province has enough stockpile of goods to take care of the needs of the affected residents.

The province has also not experienced any significant interruption in its power and water supply, he said.

Violent winds, heavy rains hit Basco as Leon grazes Batanes

“And as to their needs after kasi ni Tropical Storm Kristine, iyong stockpile po ng mga barangay and local government units natin hindi masyadong nagalaw iyong stockpile nila, so suffice pa po ang suporta noong pangangailangan po ng mga evacuees natin,” he said.

The official, however, said that they may request the NDRRMC to replenish the province’s depleted quick response fund that they will use to address possible damages brought by typhoon Leon.

“On the damages of Bagyong Leon, baka wala na tayong magamit na quick response fund. We will be requesting a replenishment from the NDRRMC for the replenishment of the quick response fund po,” he said.

Meanwhile the municipality of Dingalan, Aurora reports that they had not incurred significant damage due to the onslaught of Leon.

“Sa kabuuan po, naging maayos iyong aming sitwasyon o kalagayan nitong pagdaan po ng Bagyong Leon, bagama’t—simula po kasi noong Monday ng hapon, hanggang kanina ng umaga may storm signal po kami. So, noon po ay nakaranas po kami ng panaka-nakang pag-ulan at ganoon din po ang pabugso-bugsong hangin. Nasa normal level lang din po iyong aming mga kailogan, iyong mga creek at wala naman po kaming nai-report na nagkaroon po ng landslide o nasira pong mga infrastructure, ganoon din po sa mga kabahayan,” Dingalan MDRRMO Chief Christian June Dagasdas said in the same briefing.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coastguard says some 50 passengers remain stranded in several ports in the Southern Tagalog Region due to rough seas.

Reported death toll from Kristine, Leon rises to 150, nearly 30 still missing: NDRRMC

“Ito po ay sa lugar ng Southern Tagalog, particularly dito sa area ng Real, dito rin sa may Wawa Port sa may Balanacan. At mayroon din po tayong naitalang stranded dito sa may Bicol area, particularly sa may Virac, Catanduanes, sa may San Pascual Port at sa Pasacao, ito naman po iyong mga may biyahe na mga maliliit na mga bangka dahil nga medyo malalaki pa rin iyong alon at nakikita natin na hindi pa rin maaari o kakayanin ng ating mga bangka na magbiyahe sa mga lugar na ito,” PCG Spokesperson Algier Ricafrente said.

The PCG has earlier suspended sea travel for areas currently affected by typhoon Leon, particularly in the Batanes province, he said.

Ricafrente says the PCG is currently on heightened alert due to the expected increase in sea travelers for the All Saints Day commemoration, with additional personnel being deployed in ports to assure smooth travel for thousands of commuters.

“Simula pa po noong October 29, naka-heightened alert na po tayo dahil nga sa inaasahan natin ang pagdagsa ng mga pasahero. Nag-augment na rin po iyong ating mga operational unit para ma-ensure iyong security ng ating mga kababayan na bibiyahe. Hindi lang po security, maging iyong pagtulong po natin sa port authority na maiayos iyong daloy ng mga pasahero pasakay ng mga barko. Katuwang din po natin iyon pong ating mga Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary nito na tumutulong sa atin tuwing ganitong panahon,” he said.

“So pagdating sa security, makakaasa po iyong ating mga kababayan, mayroon lang po siguro silang ma-encounter na mga inconvenience doon sa ating mga K-9 Unit na kinakailangan na i-sniff iyong kanilang mga gamit para ma-ensure natin na walang makalusot na either drugs man or bomb.”