Malacañang has assured the public that funds are ready to address future natural calamities like Typhoon Rolly and another tropical depression that is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Sunday.
In his press briefing on Thursday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that the government has enough funds in case of more natural calamities and when local government units (LGUs) have already exhausted their calamity funds.
"We do have enough funds given that it’s already October," Roque assured the public.
"We have about 800 million worth of standby funds and family food packs ready for deployment kapag nagkaroon na naman ng aberya gaya ng susunod na bagyo gaya ni Rolly (in case we encounter another problem like Rolly)," he added.
According to Roque, the government has also prepared everything that will be needed by those who might be evacuated due to the typhoon.
"Lahat naman po ng mga kinakailangan ng mga mag-i-evacuate ay naka-preposition po, hindi lang pagkain pati po iyong mga (Everything that evacuees might need are already prepositioned. Not just food, but) evacuation centers have been pre-identified," he said.
On Thursday evening, PAGASA said “Rolly” continued its rapid intensification and has been upgraded into a typhoon.
It has maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph and could further intensify while still over the Philippine Sea. "Rolly" is likely to make landfall with a peak intensity of 165 kph to 185 kph.
While “Rolly” has yet to make landfall, the tropical depression being monitored by PAGASA outside the PAR has intensified. Based on data, "Atsani," which will be given the local name "Siony," will likely enter PAR on Sunday or Monday. However, "Siony" will be less likely to bring severe weather conditions in the next three days.
The Philippines has just gone through the wrath of Typhoon Quinta and as of Thursday, the death toll has reached 16.
Quinta caused damage to agriculture and infrastructure worth P737.1 million. The typhoon likewise partially destroyed 27,213 houses while 2,315 were totally damaged.