OCD reminds public to be vigilant as new storm approaches
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) called on the public to remain alert as a new weather disturbance is seen to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this week.
OCD Administrator Undersec. Ariel Nepomuceno issued the warning on Monday, August 28, even as the council continues to coordinate its response operations with regional counterparts and other government agencies to ensure assistance in areas affected by typhoon “Goring”.
“Together with other government agencies and uniformed services, we continue to ensure that everything needed for response operations is in place. On the part of OCD, as the executive arm of the NDRRMC [National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council], we continue to monitor the situation and coordinate response operations,” Nepomuceno said.
A tropical depression outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) with international name “Haikui” is also being monitored by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
It is seen to enter PAR by Wednesday or Thursday, and it will be given the local name “Hanna.” It was last spotted at approximately 1,885 kilometers east of Northern Luzon outside PAR while moving westward at 20 kilometers per hour as of Tuesday morning.
Goring may exit PAR on Thursday afternoon or evening.
“Now, another weather disturbance will possibly enter PAR this week thus we need the continued cooperation of everyone,” Nepomuceno said.
He said local DRRM councils must continue its preparation in anticipation of the possible effects of the approaching storm.
Meanwhile, a total of 19,370 families composed of 63,565 individuals were affected by Goring in Ilocos Sur (Region 1); Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino (Region 2); Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Zambales (Region 3); Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas (Region 4A); Occidental Mindoro (Region 4B); Negros Occidental, Iloilo, and Antique (Region 6); and Abra, Apayao, Benguet, and Kalinga (Cordillera Administrative Region).
Of those affected, there were 4,049 families or 14,856 individuals staying in 154 evacuation centers.
“We have activated the emergency preparedness and response or the EPR protocols in various regions. These are prescribed measures that need to be taken in the areas. Also, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s response clusters, led by different agencies, were activated,” Nepomuceno shared.