The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 6 has prepared for Tropical Storm (TS) “Maring” and low pressure area (LPA), formerly Tropical Depression “Nando.”
“Maring” and “Nando” merged over the weekend, although the latter weakened into an LPA as it started to be absorbed by the stronger “Maring” over the Philippine Sea on Saturday evening.
Civil Defense 6 Regional Director Jose Roberto R. Nuñez appealed to the public to stay alert and not be complacent in the midst of the typhoon.
Although there is no typhoon signal yet in Western Visayas, the public are still advised not to be complacent because light to moderate with at times heavy rains is still possible due to trough of “Maring,” Nuñez said, adding that flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in susceptible areas included in hazard maps.
Nuñez also highlighted the importance of incorporating the minimum public health standards and other health protocols in the DRRM Plans and Response considering the ongoing threat of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Maring” is forecasted to accelerate and move northwestern over the Philippine Sea notwithstanding 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 Wednesday, October 13.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 assured that they have 14,241 family food packs prepositioned in various regional warehouses for augmentation to affected local government units.
DSWD-6 said the region has also requested for replenishment of their Quick Response Fund (QFR) and monitoring and information dissemination are also being done while their Quick Response Team (QRT) is on standby for deployment.
Further, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 ensured the activation of their 24/7 Emergency Operation Center and dissemination of advisories and issuances are being done.
OCD-6 advised all local DRRMCs in Western Visayas to remain on alert, continue monitor their AOR, and ensure coordination with the RDRRMC 24/7 Operations Center./WDJ