THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 in several areas in Luzon, as Paolo (internationally known as Matmo) developed into a typhoon.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Friday, October 3, the state weather bureau said Paolo made landfall over Dinapigue, Isabela.

Its center of the eye was located in the vicinity of San Guillermo, Isabela at 10 a.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, and has gustiness of up to 215 km/h.

Typhoon Paolo is currently moving west northwestward at 25 km/h.

With this development, PAGASA hoisted TCWS over the following areas:

Signal No. 4

• Extreme northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran)
• Southern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, Palanan, Roxas, Burgos, Gamu, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Aurora, Luna, Reina Mercedes, City of Cauayan, San Mateo, Alicia, Ramon, City of Santiago, Cordon, San Isidro, Echague, Angadanan, San Guillermo, Jones, San Agustin)
• Northern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Aglipay, Saguday, Cabarroguis, Maddela)
• Northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Solano, Villaverde, Bagabag, Diadi, Quezon, Ambaguio, Bayombong)
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Southern portion of Abra (Tubo)
• Northern portion of Benguet (Bakun, Mankayan, Buguias, Kibungan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan)
• Southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Cervantes, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar, Sigay, San Emilio, Salcedo, Burgos, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, San Esteban, Santiago, Galimuyod, City of Candon, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Alilem, Tagudin, Sugpon)
• Northern portion of La Union (Luna, Bangar, Balaoan, Sudipen, Santol, San Gabriel, Bacnotan, San Juan)

Signal No. 3

• Northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dipaculao)
• The rest of Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the central portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Bambang, Kayapa, Aritao, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Santa Fe)
• Kalinga
• Central portion of Abra (Boliney, Daguioman, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Lacub, La Paz, San Juan, Lagangilang, Danglas, Lagayan, Tayum, Bangued, Langiden, Pidigan, San Quintin, Pilar, Luba, Manabo, Villaviciosa, San Isidro, Peñarrubia, Bucay, Dolores)
• The rest of Benguet
• The rest of Ilocos Sur
• The rest of La Union

Signal No. 2

• Southern portion of Cagayan (Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Solana, Iguig, Tuao, Piat, Rizal, Santo Niño, Alcala, Amulung, Enrile, Baggao)
• The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• Southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao)
• The rest of Abra
• Southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Badoc, Pinili, City of Batac, Paoay, Currimao, Banna, Laoag City, San Nicolas, Sarrat, Dingras, Solsona, Marcos, Bacarra, Piddig)
• Northern portion of Pangasinan (San Fabian, Sison, Pozorrubio, Umingan, San Jacinto, Laoac, Binalonan, San Nicolas, Natividad, Tayug, San Manuel, Asingan, Santa Maria, San Quintin, Dagupan City, Mangaldan, Manaoag, Bolinao, Anda, Bani, City of Alaminos, Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, Calasiao, Mapandan, Santa Barbara, City of Urdaneta)
• Central portion of Aurora (Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)
• Northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Bongabon, San Jose City, Pantabangan, Rizal, Lupao)

Signal No. 1

• The rest of mainland Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands
• The rest of Aurora, the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta), including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte
• The rest of Apayao
• The rest of Ilocos Norte, the rest of Pangasinan
• The rest of Nueva Ecija, the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael, Angat)
• Tarlac
• Northeastern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City)
• Northern portion of Zambales (Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz)

Typhoon Paolo is expected to generally move west northwestward. It will cross the landmass of Northern Luzon on Friday and emerge over the West Philippine Sea this afternoon or evening, according to PAGASA.

The weather bureau forecasted Typhoon Paolo to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Saturday morning, October 4.

Class, work suspensions

Due to inclement weather brought by Typhoon Paolo, several local government units (LGUs) suspended classes and government offices on Friday.

According to the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) office in Central Luzon, the list includes the following areas:

• Aurora (province-wide) – Classes in all levels, work suspension in government offices
• Nueva Ecija  (province-wide)- Classes in all levels
• Angeles City – Classes in public schools from kindergarten to senior high school (SHS)
• Botolan, Masinloc, Palauig, San Antonio, and San Felipe in Zambales – Classes in all levels

Classes in all levels, both in public and private schools, are suspended in Isabela province, Pangasinan, and La Union. Work in government offices in Isabela province and La Union is also suspended on Friday.

DSWD is ‘ready’

On X (formerly Twitter), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the public of the agency’s preparedness to respond to Typhoon Paolo, while also assisting those affected by the recent 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu and the onslaught of cyclones Mirasol, Nando, and Opong.

“While assisting Masbate, Cebu, and Nando-hit areas, DSWD is also monitoring this new storm. We are ready,” Gatchalian stressed.

As of 6 a.m. on Friday, Gatchalian said the DSWD already distributed 437,147 family food packs (FFPs), which include rice and canned goods, to communities hit by Mirasol, Nando, and Opong.