IBA, Zambales — Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. suspended classes in all levels of public and private schools in the province on Monday, as well as work in government offices, in anticipation of Super typhoon Karding which is expected to cut westward across Central and Northern Luzon with storm-force winds.

Ebdane also ordered the deployment of disaster response teams and mobilization of equipment across the province during an emergency meeting he called for here on Sunday noon, and reminded residents to keep safe.

“I advise all our fellow Zambaleños to take all necessary precaution and to stay home while we weather this storm,” Ebdane said during the meeting attended by members of the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), heads of government agencies and local government units, and provincial department managers.

Ebdane noted that “Karding” is taking a path similar to that of typhoon Ulysses, a deadly Category-4 typhoon that struck the country in November 2020.

“This is why we must prepare and take precautionary measures seriously,” he said.

“All our resources should be deployed and in place not later than 5:00 p.m. today and these include action teams and equipment. Likewise, foodstuffs should be positioned for distribution on advice,” Ebdane told attendees.

“We cannot just take our chances in face of this threat, and we must do all that we can to minimize danger to and possible loss of lives and property,” he added.

Zambales and other provinces in Central and Northern Luzon were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 as of 11:00 am on Sunday, as Super Typhoon Karding intensified and moved toward the eastern seaboard.

Weather experts said Karding packed maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h near the center, with gustiness of up to 240 km/h. The typhoon is no moving westward at a speed of 20 km/h. ~