ILOILO CITY — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-6) has warned that Tropical Cyclone Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) could bring devastating impacts to Western Visayas, as authorities outline two potential scenarios that could cause widespread destruction across Panay Island.

During an emergency pre-disaster risk assessment (PDRA) meeting on Sunday, RDRRMC-6 chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6) regional director Raul E. Fernandez said forecasts show that Tino may either:

1. Make landfall as a typhoon directly traversing Panay Island, bringing torrential rains and destructive winds across Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique; or

2. Intensify into a super typhoon cutting through either the northern or southern corridors of Panay, potentially battering the island with Yolanda- and Odette-like force.

“These are both high-impact scenarios that demand full readiness at all levels. Early evacuation and tight coordination among LGUs are non-negotiable,” Fernandez emphasized.

According to DOST-PAGASA, the cyclone could escalate into a super typhoon before landfall, prompting authorities to consider raising Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 across the region. Coastal communities are also warned of storm surges and gale-force winds, particularly along the northern Panay coastlines.

In preparation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-6) has prepositioned nearly 100,000 family food packs and relief supplies in strategic locations, while the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) identified 3,227 barangays in 101 towns and cities as highly susceptible to floods and landslides.

Fernandez said the RDRRMC remains in full activation mode, working with local governments to set up evacuation centers, secure logistics, and warn residents in high-risk areas.

“Whether Tino hits us head-on or skirts the island as a super typhoon, we must be ready for both,” he said. “We cannot underestimate either path.”

With memories of Yolanda and Odette still fresh, the region braces for what could be another test of resilience — hoping that this time, preparedness will make the difference.