UPDATE: Signal No. 2 up in 5 areas due to ‘Glenda’

 PAGASA has placed five areas under Storm Signal No. 2 as Tropical Storm ‘Glenda’ makes its way to the Philippines.

Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogonshould brace for winds greater than 60 kph and up to 100 kph in at least 24 hours.

Signal number one, meanwhile, has been raised over the following areas:

-Pangasinan
-Southern Aurora
-Burias Island
-Marinduque
-Quezon including Polilio Island
-Metro Manila
-Batangas
-Cavite
-Laguna
-Rizal
-Bulacan
-Pampanga
-Bataan
-Zambales
-Tarlac
-Nueva Ecija

‘Glenda’ entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Sunday night and was last spotted 620 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes. It is moving west at 28 kph and is threatening the Bicol Region.

The weather disturbance, with international name ‘Rammasun’, has winds of up to 95 kph and gustiness of up to 120 kph.

‘Glenda’ is expected to make landfall in Catanduanes on July 15, Tuesday, and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Wednesday night.

Classes suspended in 2 provinces

Local government units have suspended classes in Camarines Sur and Albay as tropical storm ‘Glenda’ nears.

On its official Twitter account, the Education Department says in Camarines Sur, afternoon classes from preschool to high school have been called off.

In Albay, Governor Joey Salceda also suspended classes in all levels, including college. These are for both public and private schools.

NDRRMC on heightened alert as ‘Glenda’ nears

Meantime, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council or NDRRMC is on alert as the new storm threatens the Philippines.

NDRRMC spokesperon Romina Marasigan says all local units in Luzon have been warned of the impact of tropical storm ‘Glenda’.

She adds, Disaster Management officials are on alert and ready to enforce evacuation plans if needed.

“Regional Councils have been put heightened alert. Watch and be on standby for evacuation. Be on alert [for] possible hazard with this storm, possible floods, landslides, heavy rainfall and strong winds,” Marasigan says.

The Philippine Coast Guard issued a memo to shipping companies and operators of small vessels about the suspension of sea travel during signal number one.

Meantime, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Camarine Sur is on 24-hour alert already, monitoring especially the seaboards of the coastal barangays of Siruma, Presentacion, Caramoan and Garchitorena for a possible storm surge.

The Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division rescue teams are also on standby for emergency duty.