ILOILO City – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) is alerting Western Visayans of the possible effects of Tropical Storm (TS) “Maring” and the low pressure area (LPA), formerly Tropical Depression “Nando”.
“Maring” and “Nando” merged over the weekend. “Nando” weakened into an LPA after it was absorbed by the stronger “Maring” over the Philippine Sea on Saturday evening.
RDRRMC-6 chaired by Office of Civil Defense-6 director, Jose Roberto Nuñez, conducted a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) to lay down necessary preparations.
Nuñez appealed to the public to stay alert and not be complacent, although no typhoon signal was hoisted in the region yet.
According to Nuñez, light to moderate with at times heavy rains are still possible, as well as flooding and rain-induced landslides in susceptible areas.
Nuñez also highlighted the importance of incorporating the minimum public health standards in the DRRM response with the ongoing threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“Maring” was forecast to accelerate and move northwestward over the Philippine Sea notwithstanding the possibility of short-term erratic motion.
Afterwards, it will turn and move west northwestward towards extreme Northern Luzon and is expected to be outside of Philippine Area of Responsibility on Oct. 13.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 have 14,241 family food packs prepositioned in various regional warehouses.
DSWD-6 also requested for replenishment of their quick response fund (QFR). Information dissemination was also being done while their quick response team (QRT) was on standby for deployment.
Further, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 6 also ensured the activation of their 24/7 Emergency Operation Center. Dissemination of advisories and issuances to local government units were being conducted.
OCD-6 advised all Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils to be alert, continue monitoring their areas of responsibility and ensure coordination with the RDRRMC Operations Center./PN
