The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Cagayan in northern Luzon said that as of Wednesday morning, around 1,210 families, or 3,611 individuals have been displaced by the heavy rains and strong winds brought by Maymay in the province.
The affected families are from the 35 barangays of the town of Camalaniugan, Allacapan, Santa Teresita, Pamplona, Buguey and Aparri.
Around 30 families, or 82 individuals are currently staying in evacuation centers in the province, said the PDRRMO.
The fatality, meanwhile, was from Buguey town, while the fisherman was reported missing in Barangay San Vicente, Sta. Ana town. Search and rescue operations were launched Wednesday.
Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba reminded the local chief executives (LCEs) in the province to be present in their respective towns during calamities.
Mamba earlier told the LCEs that he is not allowing them to go out of their towns especially during calamities, which he said are very common in the months of October to December.
He said the mayors must be monitoring incidents in their areas to ensure prompt delivery of services.
“Localized ang mga problema natin kaya ang mga mayor should be in their area dahil napakadelikado ng disaster months,” Mamba said.
(Our problems are localized so the mayors should be in their area because the disaster months are very dangerous.)
“Mayors and barangay captains should be in the ground to monitor and respond to the needs of their constituents. Be a good leader during disasters. Maging bida naman kayo sa inyong mga lugar kapag may sama ng panahon (Be heroes in your areas especially during calamities),” he added.
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that the center of Tropical Depression Maymay was located at 310 kilometers east northeast of Baler, Aurora, or 245 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora.
Maymay was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1004 hPa. It was almost stationary.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 1 has been raised over Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, and the extreme northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Pollilo Islands.
Pagasa said that based on the forecast track, the center of Maymay is expected to move slowly westward or west southwestward toward the eastern coast of Central Luzon. The tropical depression is expected to weaken into a remnant low as it approaches the landmass. (LMY)