Expected to land fall on the morning of August 12 (Monday), Typhoon Labuyo (International Name: Utor) enters the country in a west-northwest direction towards Aurora and Kalinga provinces. According to the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) officer-in-charge Vicente Malano that Labuyo will be the strongest typhoon so far to enter the Philippines this year. PAGASA estimated a possible rainfall amounting from 10 to 25 millimeters per hour (heavy=intense) within the 600 kilometer diameter of the typhoon with the maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 600 kilometers per hour.
Up to date PAGASA raised typhoon signals; Signal No. 3 was posted in Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Mountain Province, Polilio Island, Quirino, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Viscaya and Isabela. Signal No. 2 was posted in Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Rizal, Northern Quezon, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, and Cagayan. Lastly, Signal No. 1 was posted in Albay, Sorsogon, rest of Quezon, Laguna, Calayan, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, and Metro Manila.
Fishermen especially those who use small sea crafts are advised not to venture into the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon and eastern and western seaboards of Visayas due to the strong winds and waves generated by Labuyo. Meanwhile, local government including Malabon, Manila, Tagaytay, Caloocan, and Taguig up to elementary level; Mandaluyong, Makati, Angeles Pampanga, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Dagupan, Cainta, Navotas, Pasig, Pasay, Marikina and Cavite Provinces up to high school level and lastly, all levels class suspension on areas including San Juan, Pateros, San Mateo Rizal, Quezon City, and Laguna.
Meanwhile, in line with the Typhoon Labuyo entering the country the Undersecretary of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council (NDRRC) Eduardo del Rosario advised the provincial disaster risk reduction and management councils in regions 1, 2, 3, 5 and NCR to be alert and ready to the typhoon and the needs of their respective areas and event LGUs were informed about the strength of the typhoon.
Typhoon Labuyo is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday.
