Nika weakens after cutting across NLuzon

TYPHOON Nika has weakened after tearing across Northern Luzon Monday.

By the time it leaves the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Tuesday morning, Nika could be downgraded into a severe storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 p.m. bulletin Monday.

The typhoon made landfall in Dilasag, Aurora, early Monday, moving west-northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), packing winds of 120kph gusting up to 200kph,

Storm Signal No. 1 has been lifted over Metro Manila, but other storm signals were still raised in many parts of Northern Luzon on Monday, Pagasa said.

Signal 4 remained over Kalinga, Mountain Province, the northern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista, Banaue, Hungduan, Hingyon and Lagawe), the central and southern portion of Abra (Manabo, Pidigan, San Juan, Tayum, Langiden, Luba, Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Lagangilang, Tubo, Danglas, Villaviciosa, La Paz, Licuan-Baay, Pilar, Malibcong, Peñarrubia, San Isidro, Daguioman, San Quintin, Dolores, Lagayan, Bangued, Bucay and Lacub), and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Cabugao, Sinait, San Juan, San Emilio, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, Santiago, San Esteban, Burgos, Santa Maria, Magsingal, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Nagbukel, San Ildefonso, City of Vigan, Caoayan, Santa, Bantay, Santo Domingo, Narvacan, Quirino, Cervantes, Sigay, Salcedo, Santa Lucia, City of Candon, Galimuyod, Gregorio del Pilar and Santa Cruz).

Signal No. 3 was still up over the northern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday and Maddela), the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio and Bayombong), the central portion of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, San Mariano, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, San Guillermo, City of Cauayan, Gamu, Naguilian, Alicia, Angadanan, San Isidro, City of Santiago, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Delfin Albano, Quirino, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Cabagan, Tumauini, San Pablo, Quezon, Mallig, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Ramon and Cordon), the southwestern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal and Piat), the southern portion of Apayao (Conner and Kabugao), the rest of Abra, the rest of Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Buguias, Mankayan and Bakun), the southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Laoag City, Sarrat, San Nicolas, Piddig, Marcos, Nueva Era, Dingras, Bacarra, Solsona, Paoay, Currimao, Pinili, Badoc, City of Batac and Banna), and the rest of Ilocos Sur.

Still under Signal No. 2 were the northwestern and eastern portions of Cagayan (Iguig, Peñablanca, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Gattaran, Lasam, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Lal-Lo, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita and Gonzaga), the rest of Isabela, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Apayao, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, La Union, the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan and Tayug), the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, Dilasag, Casiguran and Dinalungan), and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao and San Jose City).

The Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe and San Narciso), the northeastern portion of Quezon (General Nakar) including Pollilo Islands remained under Signal No. 1.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) activated its disaster response units to ensure swift and coordinated assistance to people affected by Nika, AFP spokesman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said Monday.

Padilla said search, rescue, and relief operation teams were in position to provide immediate support to stricken communities.

"The AFP is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with local government units and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to assess needs on the ground, deploy necessary resources, and keep the public informed on safety protocols," she said.

Several energy agencies said they were prepared to respond to the possible effects of Nika.

Crews and personnel of the Manila Electric Co. "are on standby 24/7, ready to respond to any possible electricity service concern as we continue to monitor the movements of the typhoon," Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga said Monday.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said its preparations include ensuring the reliability of communications equipment, availability of hardware materials and supplies necessary for the repair of damage to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews to facilitate restoration work.

The NDRRMC also reported that agricultural damage from Marce has reached P16,247,830.

Ilocos Region was the hardest hit, with agricultural losses placed at 795.82 metric tons, affecting 1,640 farmers and fisherfolk.

Infrastructure damage in Cagayan Valley was P25,398,600.

About 1,000 houses were destroyed in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Close to 27,000 houses were damaged.

One person was reported dead due to Marce, while another person remained missing in the Ilocos Region.

The typhoon affected 374,177 individuals or 107,325 families in 924 barangays.

The NDRRMC also said over P40 million worth of assistance was distributed to affected residents.