ILOILO City – Western Visayas has shifted to heightened emergency readiness.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) placed its operations center under “blue” alert status on Thursday, December 4, following the rapid intensification of a low-pressure area into Tropical Depression “Wilma”.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Raul Fernandez directed all vice chairpersons and member-agencies to activate stricter monitoring protocols beginning 8 a.m. yesterday, citing the latest regional hazard assessments.
“Based from the Regional Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) Scenario Building conducted on 03 December 2025 at 2:00 PM, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) (12a) may enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility and may develop into a Tropical Depression and will be named ‘WILMA’ today,” Fernandez stated in a memorandum.
With the alert escalation, Fernandez ordered the deployment of duty officers from the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard District Western Visayas, and the Philippine National Police to the RDRRM Operations Center.
He also instructed all concerned agencies to submit situational updates without delay, emphasizing the need for swift consolidation of field reports.
“Members [must] submit and monitor situational reports, and any untoward incidents to the RDRRMC,” the memo said, directing reports to official hotlines and email channels.
Signal No. 1 raised as Wilma crosses into Visayas
Wilma strengthened into a tropical depression Thursday morning, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over several provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The weather bureau reported maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness up to 55 km/h, with the system moving west-southwest at 20 km/h.
Areas under Signal No. 1 include: Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte; Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande; and Dinagat Islands.
PAGASA also warned of heavy rainfall between Thursday and Friday due to the combined effects of Wilma and the shear line — up to 200 mm in Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon, and up to 100 mm in Masbate.
Broader wind threats expected
Even areas outside Wilma’s direct path may face strong to gale-force winds from the northeast monsoon, including regions in Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, and parts of the Visayas.
Wilma is forecast to traverse the Visayas until Monday, December 8, before emerging into the Sulu Sea and crossing northern Palawan. Slight intensification is possible, though the system is expected to remain a tropical depression./PN
