Gov't agencies on alert, ready to assist amid supertyphoon's PBBM onslaught

President Marcos has assured the public that government agencies are on alert and ready to provide assistance "wherever and whenever" amid the onslaught of Super Typhoon Nando, which made landfall in Panuitan Island in Calayan, Cagayan at 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.

- BETHEENA UNITE and ELLALYN DE VERA-RUIZ

"Preemptive evacuations have been carried out, and we are immediately addressing the needs of those in evacuation centers," Marcos said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that at landfall, Nando was packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 295 kph while moving west-northwestward at 25 kph.

"We are closely monitoring the situation, and all government agencies are on alert to provide assistance wherever and whenever it is needed," Marcos said.

PAGASA said the southwest monsoon (habagat), enhanced by the super typhoon, is also affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Over the next 24 hours, stormy weather is expected over Cordillera Administrative Region, Batanes, Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya.

Flash floods, landslides feared

PAGASA warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to heavy to intense, at times torrential rains, and a minor to extreme threat to life and property from strong to typhoon-force winds.

Rains with gusty winds may also bring flash floods or landslides from moderate to heavy, at times intense, rains in Quirino, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Aurora, and Quezon.