THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) convened the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), together with concerned Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMCs) yesterday to ramp up preparations for Severe Tropical Storm (STS) “Jenny.”
The OCD said the emergency preparedness and response (EPR) protocols of the NDRRMC are now activated in various parts of the country in order to prepare for the possible impact and effects of STS “Jenny.”
“The Office of Civil Defense (OCD), this afternoon convened the NDRRMC with the concerned RDRRMCs for a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) meeting for STS ‘Jenny.’ We continue to coordinate with different agencies and our regional counterparts to prepare and provide ample response, ensuring that all necessary measures are in place from the national down to the local level,” Civil Defense Administrator and NDRRMC Executive Director Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said.
“As always, in fulfillment of our mandate and in compliance with the President Marcos’ and NDRRMC Chair and Defense Secretary Teodoro’s guidance, we make sure that the appropriate EPR protocols are being implemented in the concerned regions to ensure the safety of the communities and to immediately provide response services in case of emergency,” he added.
EPR protocols are sets of actions that must be undertaken by national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) before the onslaught of a storm and during response operations.
Meanwhile, the anticipated needs of the regions were also tackled during the meeting.
“OCD regional offices and the RDRRMCs are all prepared for this weather disturbance. No major needs are required from the national government at this moment,” said Usec. Nepomuceno.
As of 4 pm yesterday, STS “Jenny” was spotted 760 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 125 km/h, while moving northwestward at 15 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 1 has been raised over Batanes since yesterday afternoon.
In the weather forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), heavy rainfall have already been experienced over mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar yesterday and will last until this afternoon.
The provinces of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, and Isabela will also experience heavy rainfall this afternoon until Tuesday afternoon.
Further, STS “Jenny” will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon and bring occasional monsoon rains over the western portions of Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for the next 3 days, PAGASA added.
OCD will closely coordinate with its regional counterparts and other government agencies as it monitors the progress of STS “Jenny.”