As rains threaten Leyte, organizers prepare Plan B for Pope Francis

Published January 14, 2015 7:29pm

Amid expected heavy rains over Leyte on Saturday, organizers of Pope Francis’ trip to Tacloban City and Palo town are looking at a Plan B that will have the pontiff staying in either Cebu or Samar before proceeding to the Yolanda-stricken areas to officiate a Mass and break bread with survivors.

While Pope Francis has several engagements in Manila, Church leaders have said that personally comforting the survivors of the strongest typhoon to ever make landfall was his primary reason for coming to the Philippines.

Although the tropical depression remains outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it rained the entire day in Leyte on Wednesday.

GMA News' "24 Oras" reported that church leaders in Leyte were also proposing to move the events in Tacloban and Palo to Sunday and have the events in Metro Manila held on Saturday.

The Metro Manila events scheduled on Sunday include the meeting with the youth at the University of Sto. Tomas and the "grand mass" at the Quirino Grandstand.

"Cebu Airport is also available, just in case he will wait for a good opening. Katulad kanina mahirap mag-landing. Ngayon maganda na naman. That can be an option. Stay put muna sa Cebu, wait for a good weather for a chance to land here," AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said.

The Vatican, however, has yet to be informed about the plan although the papal visit organizing committee has the final say regarding the matter.

Palo Archbishop John Du supported the organizing committee's plan, as indicated by the AFP chief.

"I'm sure mayroong plan B doon. 'Yung mga military force even all other agencies may plano 'yun. May plan B 'yan. We entrust it to them kasi sila ang mas competent in that regard," Du said.

Near Bicol or Eastern Visayas

The weather bureau PAGASA said its models showed Tropical Depression Mekkhala may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Thursday, and could get near Bicol or Eastern Visayas on Saturday.

On Saturday, Pope Francis is to visit Leyte in Eastern Visayas. He is scheduled to hold a mass at the Tacloban airport and have lunch with survivors Yolanda at the residence of the Palo Archbishop.

PAGASA orecaster Gener Quitlong said a second scenario indicates Mekkhala could recurve before reaching Visayas or Bicol, though its clouds can still bring rain over these areas even if it veers away.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, PAGASA said Mekkhala was estimated at 1,365 km east of Visayas, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Mekkhala is forecast to move west-northwest at 19 kph.

Once inside the PAR, it will be locally codenamed Amang.

Options in Tacloban City, Palo

The organizers have suggested airlifting Pope Francis by helicopter from Tacloban City to Palo town if the weather became too harsh or when the crowd disrupts the 12-kilometer open-vehicle motorcade between the two areas.

Father Amadeo Alvero, the head of the committee on information and media for the papal visit, suggested changing the Pope's itinerary in Leyte to make sure the lunch with the poor pushed through.

He suggested having the Pope's lunch with the poor moved to Tacloban instead of in Palo, or have the mass near Tacloban Airport moved to the Palo Cathedral—whichever is more convenient.

The Palo Archdiocese has also requested to move the Pope's Leyte events to Sunday—instead of Saturday—when the weather is expected to be friendlier. If approved, the papal Mass at Quirino Grandstand will be moved to Saturday.

Du said the archdiocese has asked its 78 churches to pray the Oratio Imperata for deliverance from the rains.

"We ask everybody, the people here in Tacloban, Palo, and the whole Philippines, we're asking for prayers," Du said.

In Manila, Archbishop Cardinal Tagle also asked the faithful in his jurisdiction to say a special prayer for better weather during the Pope's visit.

Don't be afraid of the weather

Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines President Archbishop Soc Villegas said that Pope Francis' schedule in the Philippines will push through, rain or shine.

"Tingin ko po, dinidinig na ng Panginoon ang dasal natin dahil sabi ni DOST na pahina nang pahina 'yung malayong low pressure area... I think we have enough sunshine within us and I know (Pope Francis) will give us so much sunshine," he said.

“We have enough sunshine, and Pope Francis have enough sunshine in him that he will bring to country...Si Pope Francis lang ang magsasabi na hindi tuloy. Sa ngayon ang sinasabi niya ay tuloy, so tuloy tayong lahat,” Villegas said in a separate interview.

The CBCP president also revealed that they don't have any alternative options and they are also not worried about the upcoming weather disturbance.

"'Wag tayong matakot sa weather. 'Wag tayong matakot sa gutom. 'Wag tayong matakot na mauhaw. 'Wag tayong matakot na tumayo ng matagal. Ang lahat ng ito ay kaya natin because we are a nation of heroes and saints," he said.

Villegas also reminded the people to bring raincoats instead of umbrellas.

"In-encourage lang na magdala ng raincoat kasi 'pag payong baka maka-obstruct tayo ng nasa likod," he added. —Trisha Macas/NB/KG, GMA News

Tags: papalvisit, popefrancis, popefrancisphlvisit, leyte