The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has activated the highest level of emergency preparedness in seven regions in anticipation of the potential impact of Tropical Storm “Kristine”.

In a virtual press conference Tuesday, Oct. 22, OCD spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said that the “Charlie” protocol has been declared in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Mimaropa (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), and Eastern Visayas (Region 8) – all of which are identified as high-risk areas as they are in the path of Kristine.

"Kapag mas mataas ang level ng protocol, mas marami kaming dapat paghandaan. Nakaready na dapat ang deployment ng teams 100 percent. Dapat nakatutuok na lahat ng mga tao sa Emergency Operations Center (Of the level of the protocol is higher, there are a lot of things that we should prepare. The deployment of teams should be ready, 100 percent. All of our personnel must be alert in the Emergency Operations Center)," Posadas said.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is currently under the “Bravo” protocol which indicates a moderate risk while the National Capital Region (NCR), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Soccsksargen (Region 12) and Caraga (Region 13) are classified under the “Alpha” protocol, representing a low risk. 

Davao (Region 11) is presently assessed as having “no to very low risk.”

“Basically it’s almost the whole of the Philippines that is affected by Tropical Storm Kristine,” Posadas said.

“We are expecting that Kristine may make landfall somewhere between Aurora or Isabela or Cagayan, according to PAGASA [Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration], depending if the path will not change. But most likely, it will track Isabela on [Wednesday] night until Thursday morning,” he added.

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Kristine was located at 335km east of Virac, Catanduanes while packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometer per hour and gustiness of 80 kilometers per hour. It was moving west, northwestward at a slow speed of 10 kilometers per hour.

Forecasts indicate that Kristine may intensify into a severe tropical storm by Wednesday before its projected landfall over the northeastern portion of Cagayan by Friday afternoon.

The number of individuals that may be affected by the storm soared to 33,531,886, based on the estimate of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

Additionally, the number of barangays vulnerable to landslides and floods rose to 21,213, according to the latest report from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

Posadas said the OCD is actively coordinating with transport agencies to issue travel advisories, particularly in areas anticipated to be impacted by the tropical cyclone. 

“As the threat level continues to escalate, the OCD is intensifying its efforts to provide timely weather updates and conduct pre-disaster risk assessments, gathering critical data from technical agencies to enhance emergency preparedness and response,” Posadas said in a separate statement.

“Regional offices have been instructed to elevate disaster preparedness measures and to communicate any additional support needed to the central office. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Response Clusters are also scheduled to convene to discuss the activation of relevant National Response Clusters,” he added.

Thousands stranded in ports

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) monitored a total of 3,860 passengers who were stranded in various ports in Southern Tagalog region, Northwestern Luzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Northeastern Mindanao.

There were also 635 rolling cargoes, 33 vessels and nine motorboats that were stranded in ports, while 129 vessels and 154 motorboats had to take shelter due to rough sea condition.