State weathermen on Sunday warned they spotted a new tropical cyclone approaching the Philippines just as typhoon “Quiel” (international name Nalgae) was exiting after leaving a trail of destruction especially floods in wide areas in Luzon.
Undersecretary Graciano Yumul of the Department of Science and Technology, the head of the weather bureau, said the cyclone could develop into a tropical depression to be called “Ramon” once it enters the Philippines either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Yumul said Ramon was earlier spotted 700 kilometres east of the Visayas in Central Philippines but warned that based on its trajectory, it could again hit Northern Luzon which bore the brunt of the devastation wrought by Quiel and typhoon “Pedring” (international name Nesat).
Yumul aired the warning during a meeting of top government officials headed by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to get a progress report on the destruction inflicted by Quiel and Pedring in Luzon within a week of each other.
The meeting was held at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) office in suburban Quezon City, Metro Manila where concerned Cabinet officials reported on the damage wrought in terms of human lives, health, agriculture as well as government infrastructure like roads, bridges and schoolhouses.
The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted that the agency has at least 75 rubber boats and three helicopters which it could use to help rescue and bring relief goods to tens of thousands of residents trapped by floods inside their homes in Central Luzon.
But Director General Nicanor Bartolome pointed out the PNP could not utiliSe these much-needed equipment amid appeals for help from Malacanang for private companies and private citizens to lend their boats for the rescue and relief missions.
Bartolome explained the boats and helicopters are to be used as evidence in the plunder and similar criminal charges that arose from the allegedly anomalous of these equipments. “Until the courts have resolved the cases, we cannot use for instance, the 75 rubber boats,” Bartolome said.