Red alert status hoisted, funds prepared as 'Karding' nears landfall
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has hoisted a red alert status in areas that will be affected by tropical storm which already intensified and caused the raising of storm signal number 1 in some parts of northern and central Luzon.
The hoisting of the red alert status stemmed from the reports of weather experts that the "Karding" has been intensifying and actually caused the raising of signal number 1 over the eastern portion of Isabela and northern part of Aurora on Friday afternoon.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, Signal No. 2 was hoisted in the southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue), the northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag), and Polillo Islands.
Signal No. 1 was raised in the southern portion of Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the southern portion of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, the northern and central portions of Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, the northern portion of Batangas, Camarines Norte, northern and eastern portions of Camarines Sur, and the northern portion of Catanduanes.
In a statement, the NDRRMC said the Department of Interior and Design advised the LGUs concerned to conduct preemptive evacuations of communities in high-risk areas.
The NDRRMC also put a standby fund of P517 million as Quick Response Fund (QRF) at the Central Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
It said relief items and other materials were also prepositioned in some areas that are projected to be hit by "Karding".
Weather experts said the earliest possible landfall of "Karding" is on Sunday morning, Sept. 25.