By Azer Parrocha
Malacañang on Sunday urged the public to remain vigilant and follow quarantine protocols as Typhoon Bising (international name "Surigae") maintains strength while passing close to Bicol Region.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark as he assured that the national government continues to monitor Typhoon Bising 24/7.
“Our concern is the safety of everyone. We therefore ask our people to remain alert and vigilant, cooperate with authorities and continue to observe minimum public health standards for protection against Covid-19,” he said in a press statement.
To date, Roque said the Office of Civil Defense has conducted pre-disaster risk assessments at the national level and issued guidance and advisories for the early preparation of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMCs) and the local government units (LGUs) since April 14.
A total of PHP556,438,277 standby funds was allotted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in their central office and field offices and stockpiles consisting of 370,058 family food packs amounting to PHP188,605,445, as of 6 p.m., April 17.
Dedicated teams are also looking into the impact of any disaster, especially in monitoring the evacuation centers in relation to Covid-19 protocol, according to the Department of Health.
Assorted medicines and Covid-19 supplies have also been prepositioned to regional offices.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has prepositioned all response assistance while all unified commands were instructed to assist RDRRMCs in preemptive evacuation and other relevant operations.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has activated nine regions, reiterating the use of Oplan Listo and LGU assistance to response operations.
Oplan LISTO aims to develop the capabilities of LGUs to become resilient and safe communities as well as households that are self-reliance while building the internal capacities of the DILG and Local Government Academy.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has also carried out preemptive evacuation in Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Northern and Eastern Samar.
In the 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Typhoon Bising maintained its maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 265 kph.
Bising could bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Bicol and Eastern Visayas Sunday, PAGASA said.
The typhoon may continue to bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Bicol and Northern Samar by Monday.
The state weather bureau also warned that flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are likely to occur especially in areas identified in hazard maps as highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.
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