The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) asked local government units (LGUs) in Luzon and Visayas to strictly implement preemptive and forced evacuation protocols in high-risk areas to prepare for the onslaught of Tropical Storm ‘Pepito.’
In a memorandum, DILG Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla also directed the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to support the LGUs in the forced evacuation process in high risk areas where flooding, landslides, storm surges and other hazardous occurrences may take place.
Remulla stressed that the LGUs “must identify and prepare evacuation centers’’ that meet safety standards and are equipped with sanitation and medical facilities as well as designated areas for vulnerable groups.
“All LGUs are reminded to prioritize the safety of children, the elderly, expectant mothers and persons with disabilities,” Remulla noted.
The DILG chief stated that the intense rainfall expected from ‘Pepito’ may elevate water levels in major dams, potentially requiring water discharge operations that could affect downstream communities.
Remulla also prodded the LGUs to prepare for the distribution of relief supplies in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and their respective Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC).
The DILG said that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) report noted that ‘Pepito’ could reach Super Typhoon category prior to making landfall this weekend and may bring heavy rainfall along with moderate to high risk storm surges in several areas of the country.