The National Electrification Administration (NEA) ordered the electric cooperatives (ECs) to make the necessary preparations for Tropical Storm ‘Pepito,’ which is expected by the state weather bureau to make landfall over the coast of Aurora-Isabela area tonight.
The NEA Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD) issued an advisory on Monday, October 19, for the 121 ECs to ensure appropriate contingency measures are in place to mitigate the possible impact of the weather disturbance on their electric services to consumers.
The NEA DRRMD also directed the power distribution utilities to activate their respective Emergency Response Organization when the need arises to implement without delay the appropriate emergency response plans.
All ECs were also advised to monitor the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) for updates regarding Tropical Storm ‘Pepito,’ and report all significant outages to the NEA.
In a weather bulletin issued at 11 a.m. Tuesday, PAGASA said ‘Pepito’ intensifies into a tropical storm as it moves towards Isabela-Aurora area. It is forecast to make landfall over the coast of Aurora-Isabela area between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
At 10 a.m., the center of Tropical Storm ‘Pepito’ was estimated based on all available data at 295 km East of Baler, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h. It was moving northwestward at 25 km/h.
PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 over La Union, Ifugao, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Aurora, the southern portion of Isabela (Palanan, San Mariano, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Gamu, Burgos, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cauayan City, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Alicia, San Mateo, Ramon, San Isidro, Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Santiago City, Cordon), the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem, Tagudin), the northern portion of Zambales (Iba, Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz, Botolan, Cabangan), and the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar) including Polillo Islands.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is hoisted over Metro Manila, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Rizal, the northern portion of Camarines Norte (Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga, Vinzons), Catanduanes, the rest of northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, Real), the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Isabela, and the rest of Zambales. ###