By Nimfa L. Estrellado PDRRMO Dr. Melchor Avenilla Jr. (left) discusses weather projections with Provincial Information Officer Jun Lubid (r...
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| PDRRMO Dr. Melchor Avenilla Jr. (left) discusses weather projections with Provincial Information Officer Jun Lubid (right) during the urgent Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) meeting in Lucena City today. (Quezon PIO) |
LUCENA CITY—Local authorities in Quezon Province have activated their highest emergency protocols following projections that indicate a high probability of a second landfall directly impacting the province this weekend. As Typhoon Opong (#OpongPH) continues to intensify, provincial officials are preparing for severe winds and extensive rainfall, prompting an immediate official response.
The specific threat to Quezon is highly probable, according to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Dr. Melchor Avenilla Jr. He stated that this imminent danger is the result of Opong, which, according to the 5 PM PAGASA bulletin, has intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) as it strengthens over the Philippine Sea.
Opong is forecast to reach maximum typhoon category before its initial landfall in the Bicol Region on Friday afternoon, September 26, and will track rapidly across Southern Luzon until Saturday morning. Dr. Avenilla specified that if the typhoon maintains its current track after crossing Bicol, it is expected to make a second landfall, specifically affecting towns in the Third District and Central Quezon. The province expects strong winds and heavy rainfall to begin by Friday.
The potential for heavy damage is underscored by PAGASA’s advisory: Opong’s broad circulation will bring intense to torrential rains (exceeding 200 millimeters) across high-risk areas, including Quezon. This volume of rain is expected to trigger widespread and serious flooding and landslides in vulnerable communities. Authorities also warn of a potential risk of a storm surge in low-lying coastal areas of Southern Luzon, directly threatening Quezon's shorelines. The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by late Saturday or Sunday morning, September 28.
In response to these threats, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) convened an urgent Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) meeting at 10:00 AM today, Wednesday, September 24. Governor Angelina Tan presided over the session at the Quezon Preparedness Operations Center (QPOC), alongside Dr. Avenilla and Provincial Information Officer Jun Lubid, along with representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
During the meeting, Governor Angelina Tan emphasized the critical importance of early and comprehensive preparation, issuing directives to local government units (LGUs) focused on securing resident safety. The Provincial Government is ensuring the readiness of all evacuation centers, verifying the strategic pre-positioning of relief goods, and ordering strict, 24-hour monitoring of areas prone to flash flooding and erosion.
To maximize public safety, the Governor also announced the suspension of classes in all levels, both in private and public schools, across the whole province of Quezon, starting tomorrow, September 25, until Friday, September 26. Furthermore, work in both private and government offices on September 26 is hereby suspended. These measures are part of crucial advice regarding pre-emptive evacuation protocols for communities in the storm's path.
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