To avoid a repeat of the September devastation of typhoon "Jolina" which killed 19 people, mostly fishermen, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) called for vigilance anew especially in coastal communities as a new low pressure area (LPA) formed and was spotted in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad reminded disaster risk reduction and management offices (DRRMOs), local government units (LGUs) and other relevant agencies to relay weather updates and warnings to affected areas including in CARAGA (Region 13), Davao Region (Region 11), and Southern Leyte so they could prepare for the possible effects of the LPA.
"We have an LPA. We should not be complacent. Regional offices should continue disseminating warnings. Cascading of warnings through media outfits is also important," said NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad during a pre-disaster risk assessment (PDRA) meeting on Sunday, October 3.
Communities were also advised by Jalad to prepare for possible flooding and rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially those areas that are highly susceptible to hazards.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said during the PDRA meeting that the LPA was forecasted to develop into a tropical depression "within 48 hours."
PAGASA also presented two possible tracks of the LPA: one where it will be crossing Visayas and Southwestern Luzon, and another where it will take a northward direction after reaching the CARAGA-Eastern Visayas area and head towards the Bicol region. The southwest monsoon will prevail for both scenarios.
Meanwhile, scattered to at times widespread rain showers will be experienced over the rest of Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Central Visayas (Region 8), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), and Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) while parts of Luzon will have cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
"Since the LPA can still escalate into a tropical depression or storm, small sea vessels are also advised not to venture out to sea in affected areas due to rough waters," Jalad said.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-MGB) also reiterated the inportance of vigilant monitoring of landslide and flood-prone areas.
The DENR-MGB identified 3,076 barangays across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that are prone to flooding and landslide which may be affected by the LPA.
DENR-MGB also reported four areas with high rainfall accumulation: Malaybalay, Bukidnon; San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; and Tayabas, Quezon.
As an outcome of the assessment, Jalad said the Regional DRRMOs for CALABARZON (Region 4A), MIMAROPA (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen (Region 12), and CARAGA have initiated preparedness measures to support the activities of the LGUs that will be affected by the LPA.