Aurora farmers harvest early due to Typhoon Mangkhut's approach

To prevent their grain from going to waste when Typhoon Mangkhut cuts across northern Luzon, area farmers harvested their rice and other produce early, GMA News TV program "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho" reported on Tuesday.

In Aurora's Casiguran town, rice fields were harvested ahead of season amid fears of the typhoon damaging their crop.

Meanwhile, local National Food Authority (NFA) offices in La Union were attempting to distribute their NFA rice supplies as early as quickly as they could, in case the typhoon prevented deliveries.

"Massive na dispersal ng mga bigas sa mga iba't ibang mga lugar sa Region I, at kasama rin nito 'yung dalawang probinsya sa Cordillera," NFA La Union manager Fortunato Bulao explained.

PAGASA had warned that Typhoon Mangkhut, which would be known as Typhoon Ompong once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsiblity on Wednesday afternoon, would likley head for northern Luzon.

Nevertheless, even those living further south of Luzon, like those near the Marikina River in Metro Manila, were preparing for the typhoon's effects.

"Lahat ho ng gamit namin, itinataas ho namin para hindi po ma-ano ng baha. Ganu'n ho ang ginagawa namin pero pagdating naman ng ten years, mangyayari 'yung Ondoy na 'yun eh," explained Barangay Tumana local, Erlinda Jabon.

Tuesday afternoon, Mangkhut was 1,650 kilometers east of southern Luzon, and was moving westwards towards the PAR at 30 kph. — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News