The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday, June 1, placed on full alert its disaster response units in parts of Visayas and Mindanao that are on the path of tropical storm (TS) "Dante."
PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said all concerned police offices, especially those in Eastern Samar and Northern Samar, have been directed to coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) and the local offices of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) so that they may be instructed on the specific assistance that they can extend amid the calamity.
"I am placing all concerned police offices and units on full alert to guarantee the availability of assets, resources, and personnel for possible disaster response operations in areas threatened by Dante," Eleazar said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it was verifying three reported deaths so far: two in Davao Region (Region 11) and one in Soccsksargen (Region 12). There was also one missing person in Soccksksargen.
The reported casualties in Davao Region include a one-year-old child who was buried under debris following a landslide in Maco, Davao del Sur; and a 71-year-old man whose body was found after a flashflood in Davao del Sur.
The local police were also tasked to ensure order as well as the observation of minimum public health safety standards (MPHS) in connection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) once storm victims are brought to the different evacuation centers.
So far, at least 158 families or 604 individuals have been pre-emptively evacuated from nine barangays in the Davao Region, according to NDRRMC.
Eleazar said a Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) was created in case there is a need to augment forces in calamity-stricken areas.
He urged the public to keep safe and remain alert amid the storm. He also urged residents to follow the instructions of authorities when it comes to pre-emptive evacuation, saying it's for their safety.
Dante was spotted at 220 kilometers (km) east, northeast of Maasin city, Southern Leyte or 125 km east, southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
It was moving north, northwestward toward the southern portion of Eastern Visayas at a speed of 15 km/hour. It has maximum sustained winds of 75 km/hour near the center, gustiness of up to 90 km/hour, and central pressure of 996 Hecto Pascal (hPa).
Dante is expected to further intensify once it makes its landfall over Eastern Samar or Leyte by Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning.