MALACAÑANG yesterday assured the public that contingencies are in place, including the prepositioning of family food packs and relief goods, in anticipation of the onslaught of Tropical Depression “Odette.”
Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said the government is closely monitoring “Odette,” which is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility tonight, Tuesday.
“We ask everyone, especially those residing in affected areas, to keep up to date with the latest weather advisories and bulletins, to take precautionary measures, and to cooperate with local authorities should there be a need for evacuation or other necessary actions,” Nograles said.
He said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is making the necessary preparations in coordination with regional and local disaster risk reduction and management councils to ensure the safety of the public.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has at least P19.69 million worth of Quick Response Fund and 73,507 family food packs on standby at the National Resource Operations Center ready to be deployed anytime. Some family food packs and relief goods have also been pre-positioned in various regions.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration earlier warned residents in the Visayas, some parts of Mindanao and Southern Luzon to be vigilant against “Odette.”
PAGASA said Signal No. 1 might be raised in some areas in the eastern portions of the Visayas and Mindanao as early as this afternoon or evening.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, “Odette” was spotted 1,645 kilometers east of Mindanao, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour with gustiness of up to 80 kilometers per hour. It is moving west north westward at 20 kilometers per hour.
The weather state bureau said “Odette” is expected to bring heavy rainfall to some areas when it hits land and passes through the central Philippines.
Meanwhile, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake jolted Calatagan, Batangas on Monday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Phivolcs said the quake occurred 240 kilometers west of Calatagan, Batangas at 5:12 p.m. It said the quake, tectonic in origin, had a depth of 990 kilometers.
The quake was also monitored in Quezon City, San Felipe, Zambales; Tagaytay City and Batangas City.
No immediate damage was recorded. The Phivolcs warned the public of possible aftershocks. — With Noel Talacay
