‘Mina is three times stronger than Lando,’ Arroyo underscores at NDCC meeting

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo presided Friday over a meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council in Camp Aguinaldo to check on the preparations of attached agencies in connection with typhoon Mina, which is to make a landfall Saturday. “This is three times stronger than Lando," Mrs Arroyo said of Mina (international name: Mitag), comparing it to typhoon Lando, which has left the Philippines after wrecking havoc in several regions, leaving 14 people dead, 11 injured and six missing. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration director Prisco Nilo told the President that “Mina" appears to have not moved “and we are really having difficulty in tracking where it’s going to eventually be heading." But Nilo said the projection stays that Bicol would be hit. “Because it’s already very close to Bicol. In fact, it’s already starting to affect Catanduanes and most parts of the Bicol region, Madam President. The maximum winds are still 175 kilometers." NDCC executive officer and concurrent Office of the Civil Defense administrator Glenn Rabonza briefed the President on the preparations the NDCC is undertaking, including the evacuation of residents who are living in high-risk areas. Rabonza said they have prepositioned P41 million worth of relief goods in the affected areas. The National Transmission Commission said it activated its contingency plans for the weather disturbance. Specifically, Transco line crews are on stand by for the possible repair of transmission and power lines that may be toppled by Mina. The Armed Forces said it has activated its Task Force Mina in Southern Luzon and in the Bicol region. AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero said the military has deployed its assets and personnel for the evacuation of people in the two regions. In Metro Manila, National Capital Region Command chief Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa said he has activated his units Disaster Response Task Force. He said the task force would be attending to any emergencies, specifically in the northern towns in the capital region and Manila areas. “We are ready for action, Ma’am," said Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando told the President. Fernando said the MMDA’s flood pumps are ready for operation in case of flooding in the metropolis. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the health department and its regional units are on “code white" but said the alert status can be raised to code blue or code red depending on the situation even as he assured that medicines and medical supplies are already prepositioned. Philippine Coast Guard commandant Rear Admiral Danilo Abinoja said over 1,000 people are stranded in sea ports as they suspended voyage in areas where the public storm signal No. 2 are prevailing. He said the stranded chose to remain at ports because they live in far away areas. The President later called governors in Bicol to check on their condition, particularly the evacuation. Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said 32,000 families are already in evacuation centers. He said 95 percent of the residents in the lahar-prone areas are already in evacuation centers. The President seemed pleased with the preparations. Before adjourning the meeting, the President said: “Good luck to you and all your work." - GMANews.TV