The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) alerted the public about the potential “destructive” effects of shear line and intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), both of which cause incessant and excessive rains in many parts of the country recently and have since claimed the lives of five people.

OCD Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno issued a memorandum to all regional directors directing them to activate enhanced disaster response protocols and ensure the communities are well-prepared in light of the combined effects of the shearline and ITCZ.

A shear line is a weather phenomenon that occurs when cold air from the northeast monsoon, also known as the amihan, meets warm winds from the Pacific Ocean. This convergence of winds can cause heavy rains and thunderstorms. Meanwhile, the ITCZ is a low-pressure band of clouds that circles the Earth near the equator and causes heavy rain and thunderstorms.

“With the ongoing reports of flooding and the resulting fatalities, injuries, and destruction of property across various regions, it is essential that we take decisive action to prevent further loss of life and damage,” Nepomuceno said on Saturday, Jan. 4.

“The public must not take these weather systems lightly, as they can be as destructive as the typhoons we experienced in January 2023, where 43 lives were lost in the Visayas and Mindanao due to flooding and landslides caused by intense rainfall from the shear line,” he added.

As of Jan. 3, the OCD reported five people were dead, 20 others were injured, and two persons were missing due to shearline and ITCZ.

The casualties were recorded in Mimaropa (Region 4B), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), and Davao (Region 11).

Moreover, a total of 139,255 families composed of 436,164 individuals were affected across Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Calabarzon (Region 4A), Region 4B, Bicol (Region 5), Regions 8, and 11. Currently, there were 549 families or 2,366 individuals staying in 29 evacuation centers, while 1,661 families comprising 2,247 persons were being served outside of temporary shelters.

There were also 1,092 houses that were damaged in Regions 8 and 11. The damage to infrastructure in Region 11 alone is estimated at P215.7 million.

Power supply interruptions have been reported in one municipality in Region 11, and transportation infrastructure is also severely affected, with 39 roads and six bridges deemed impassable across Regions 2, 4A, 4B, 5, 8 and 11.

Nepomuceno said regional offices of the OCD shall refresh their personnel on the National Disaster Response Plan and local contingency protocols, with an emphasis on worst-case scenario planning.

A thorough assessment of Food and Non-Food Items (FNFI) and emergency response equipment must also be conducted “to address any potential shortages proactively.”

“Moreover, it is imperative that all communication lines remain operational to facilitate seamless coordination among government units during disasters. Regional Directors are encouraged to recommend preemptive evacuations to Local Chief Executives, particularly for communities in vulnerable areas susceptible to flooding and landslides,” Nepomuceno said.

“Additionally, any incidents that may impact disaster response efforts should be reported for immediate review and action,” he noted.