The provincial government of Albay ordered work suspensions and the evacuation of families in vulnerable areas on Saturday, October 18, due to Tropical Storm Ramil.
Governor Noel Rosal said work in all government offices in the province was suspended, except for those related to public safety, health, and disaster response. Suspension of work in private companies was left to the discretion of their management.
Rosal also directed that the evacuation of families in areas prone to flooding, debris flow, lahar, landslides, and storm surge be completed before 10 a.m. Saturday. The public was advised to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in high-risk areas.
In Pio Duran town, local officials preemptively evacuated about 84 families, or 287 people, from low-lying areas.
Earlier, the Catanduanes government also suspended work and school activities to minimize risks and ensure the safety of government workers, students, and the public. Officials prepositioned 10,611 food packs and 400 non-food items and advised farmers and fisherfolk to conduct emergency rice harvesting to prevent crop losses.
In an 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Ramil had slowed while moving west-northwest over the sea east of Sorsogon province.
The storm’s center was over the coastal waters of Palapag, Northern Samar, with sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 90 kph. It was moving west-southwest at 20 kph.
Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 over the following areas:
Northern Aurora: Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan
Polillo Islands
Camarines Norte
Catanduanes
Northern Camarines Sur: Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, San Jose, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion
Extreme eastern Albay: Rapu-Rapu
Northeastern Sorsogon: Prieto Diaz
Northeastern Northern Samar: Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Pambujan, San Roque, Mondragon, Gamay
Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas:
Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands)
Isabela
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Apayao
Abra
Kalinga
Mountain Province
Ifugao
Benguet
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Pangasinan
Rest of Aurora
Nueva Ecija
Eastern Bulacan: Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Angat
Eastern Tarlac: Camiling, San Clemente, Santa Ignacia, Paniqui, Moncada, San Manuel, Anao, Ramos, Pura, Victoria, City of Tarlac, La Paz, Concepcion, Gerona
Eastern Pampanga: Magalang, Arayat, Candaba
Northern and Eastern Quezon: Tagkawayan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Mauban, Calauag, Guinayangan, Lopez, Pitogo, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, San Narciso, Buenavista, San Francisco, San Andres, Mulanay, General Nakar, Infanta, Real, Sampaloc
Rest of Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon
Burias Island
Ticao Island
Northern Samar
Northern Eastern Samar: San Policarpo, Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Jipapad, Taft, Can-Avid
Northern Samar: Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Niño, Tarangnan, Paranas, City of Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong