Around 5 pm on November 17, Typhoon Pepito made its presence felt in Baguio City with gusty winds.

By nightfall, heavy winds and rain battered the city as the eye of the typhoon passed over the Cordillera region.

At Burnham Park, the winds made the trees sway.

Some motorists drove cautiously due to the heavy rain.

In Barangay Lower Rock Quarry, the water in the City Camp Lagoon surged relentlessly.

As a result, the barangay prepared their equipment for clearing debris blocking the Siltation Dam.

According to Punong Barangay Silvino Cominga Jr. of Barangay Lower Rock Quarry, “We were caught off guard because the rain came suddenly, and we didn’t expect the volume, but as you can see, the water levels are still normal according to the markers.”

However, due to the strong water flow, some residents in the area decided to evacuate.

“I was scared because we live right by the canal, and I didn’t want the water to reach us before we could evacuate,” said Virginia Rosas, one of the evacuated residents from City Camp Lagoon.

She and her two grandchildren evacuated.

They were just one of almost 50 families who evacuated during Typhoon Pepito’s impact on the city.

Although the weather remained harsh all night, there were no major incidents reported during the typhoon’s onslaught.

“Generally, Baguio is okay. All is well, except for some erosion along Naguillan Road, which is being verified by the barangay captain. I’ve also informed the DPWH to immediately act on it,” Mayor Benjamin Magalong assured.

Meanwhile, some workers and tourists were stranded yesterday in the Central Business District.

They were quickly transported in police, POSD, and BJMP vehicles to return home.

BENECO is working to restore the city’s power lines damaged by the typhoon.

Some tourist spots in the city remain closed due to the damage they sustained.

The full extent of the damage caused by Typhoon Pepito in the city is still being assessed.

**CHARLES NIKKO LIMON