AFP Says It Has Adequate Forces for Contingencies That May Be Caused by Typhoon ‘Hanna’

(PNA) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that it has adequate forces to respond to possible contingencies that may be caused by powerful typhoon “Hanna” which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Wednesday morning.

Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, said this is possible as military units which participated in the July 30 earthquake drill are still present in Metro Manila and ready for duty.

These include the 525th Engineering Battalion in Libis, Quezon City, which is the primary humanitarian assistance and disaster relief unit of the military.

Other units include those from the Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon Commands which can deploy troops and emergency vehicles should Metro Manila be hit by flooding.

Aside from this, Detoyato stressed that Metro Manila-based military units have ample trucks in reserve and these can be deployed to help stranded passengers if needed.

In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, typhoon “Hanna” was located at 1,360 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan (19.7°N, 134.4°E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

It is forecast to move west-northwest at 20 kph toward Taiwan.

Weathermen said that if it maintains its speed and movement, “Hanna” is expected to be at 910 km east- northeast of Calayan, Cagayan or at 850 km east of Itbayat, Batanes by Thursday morning.

By Friday morning, it is forecast to be at 375 km east- northeast of Itbayat, Batanes and at 400 km north-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes by Saturday morning. (PNA) SCS/PFN