President Marcos has instructed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to ensure the availability of all the resources to respond to the needs of the more than 1.7 million Filipinos who were affected by tropical storm “Enteng”.
In a statement, the NDRRMC said the President’s instruction for intensified preparations and readiness covers potential tropical cyclones expected to affect the country.
This, after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that there will be two to three more weather disturbances that are expected to hit the country in the coming weeks.
“Think of what is coming in the future so that we are not caught short-handed when the time comes that we need to provide the relief and assistance that are necessary for all the other weather systems,” said Marcos during a briefing on the impact of “Enteng” at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Based on the 8 a.m. Sept. 5 data of the NDRRMC, a total of 13 people was reported to have died while 15 others are missing as a result of the “Enteng” onslaught.
The Office of Civil Defense, on the other hand, said the weather disturbance has so far affected 442,804 families or 1,720,568 individuals, mostly in Bicol, Metro Manila and nearby regions.
Of the affected population, a total of 21,681 families or 88,077 individuals have sought shelter in evacuation centers.
As of 8 a.m.. “Enteng,” was spotted 300 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Sur with maximum sustained winds of 100 km/hour and gustiness up to 125 km/h.
“In light of the impacts of climate change and weather dynamics, President Marcos emphasized the need for a more dynamic assessment. He directed all agencies to closely monitor the forecast and ensure preparedness and optimize resource allocation,” the NDRRMC said in a statement.
“Additionally, the President reiterated his guidance on the continuous implementation of standard procedures and reaching isolated areas,” it added.
Aside from the tropical cyclones, also discussed in the meeting was the La Niña phenomenon.
The country is now under La Nina Alert Status with a 66 percent chance of forming in September-October-November 2024. La Niña will likely persist until the first quarter of 2025.