Palace: Harvest typhoon’s rain

As super typhoon “Rosal” threatens to dump heavy rain over Northern Luzon, Malacañang urged residents in drought-affected areas to seize the opportunity to collect and store rainwater while hoping the cyclone would bring relief without causing widespread destruction.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Wednesday that rainfall from Rosal could help communities grappling with dry conditions amid the El Niño phenomenon.

“If your area is expected to experience heavy rainfall, this is the perfect opportunity to collect and store water, especially if your community is currently experiencing drought,” Castro said during a briefing in Malacañang.

She expressed hope that “Rosal” would bring enough rain to ease water shortages without causing severe damage despite its classification as a super typhoon.

“This is a good opportunity, and we should pray that the typhoon will not be too strong. Hopefully, it will bring just enough rain to help ease the effects of El Niño in the areas it hits,” she said.

Castro assured the public that government agencies were prepared to respond to the storm, citing the readiness of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Health (DoH).

“The President has always emphasized our preparedness. Strong typhoons regularly affect the country, and the DSWD, DPWH, DENR and all other concerned agencies, including the DoH, are ready for these kinds of conditions and situations,” she said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed Rosal’s center 845 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, moving west-northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour.

The super typhoon packed maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center, with gusts reaching 265 kph.

PAGASA identified Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, the eastern portion of Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Apayao and the northeastern portion of Catanduanes among the areas threatened by the cyclone.

While rainfall could provide relief to communities facing water shortages, authorities continue to face the challenge of balancing the need to conserve water with preparations for potentially destructive weather.