The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has appealed to Filipinos to take seriously the warnings associated with the shear line and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) as these weather systems continue to significantly impact different parts of the country.

In an interview on Teleradyo Serbisyo, OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno cited the need for heightened awareness and preparation.

The shear line, an imaginary boundary where cold and warm air masses meet, has led to unexpected weather conditions that can be as devastating as typhoons. The shear line and ITCZ have been linked to tragic outcomes: five deaths and two missing individuals, with incidents reported in the Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, and Davao regions all from Dec. 26, 2024, to Jan. 2, 2025.

During the interview, Nepomuceno highlighted past tragedies, like the January 2023 events where 43 lives were lost due to flooding and landslides, to stress the potential destructiveness of these weather phenomena.

"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," he said.

"The public must not take these weather systems lightly, as they can be as destructive as typhoons," he added.

Nepomuceno pointed out that even though the shear line might not seem as formidable as a typhoon, the damage can be substantial, with 650 houses reported as partially or fully damaged in various regions by Dec. 30, 2024.

The OCD chief called for a collaborative effort between national agencies and local government units (LGUs) to improve the dissemination and understanding of weather alerts.

Nepomuceno highlighted the critical role of mitigation in reducing casualties and property damage. He called for enhanced preparation over mere response, particularly forced evacuations in high-risk areas and better public education on weather-related terms.

"Naka-focus ho kasi tayo sa response, pero sa taong ito, mas bigyan natin ng konkretong solusyon yung preparation part (We’re currently focused on response, but this year, let’s put more emphasis on preparation)," he said.

Touching on the financial aspect, Nepomuceno noted that the 2024 budget for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which includes the OCD, was insufficient, leading to the use of additional presidential funds.

With this, he called for increased financial support in future allocations to bolster disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

"Naubos po talaga 'yan (budget). Lumampas po, gumamit na tayo ng presidential funds na karagdagan (We exhausted the budget. We exceeded that's why we needed the presidential funds)," he explained,

"Iba na ho ang panahon ngayon (The times are different). Sana po mas mataas kasi alam naman nating kulang ang naging budget noong 2024 (We hope it is higher since we were lacking in funds in 2024)," he added.

The OCD is one of 45 agencies under the NDRRMC.