BY GLENDA TAYONA AND DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
ILOILO City – Local disaster risk reduction and management councils (LDRRMCs) across Western Visayas are being warned of a potential tropical cyclone.
An update (as of 11 a.m. on Dec. 12) of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed the low pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) southeast of Palau has developed into a tropical depression.
It is expected to enter PAR by Tuesday and will be named “Odette.”
“Due to favorable environmental conditions, the tropical cyclone will likely continue to intensify and may reach typhoon category by Tuesday evening or Wednesday early morning,” the state weather bureau said.
Ma. Aletha Nogra, officer-in-charge of the Office of Civil Defense in Region 6, enjoined all LDRRMC chairpersons and concerned stakeholders to undertake the necessary preparations.
Monitor closely tropical cyclone bulletins, warnings and other advisories issued by surveillance agencies, said Nogra.
They are also advised to cross validate the current situation with Doppler radar images, satellite images and other science-based monitoring and forecasting tools.
Local government units must also initiate a pre-disaster risk assessment (PDRA) and coordinate with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regarding the conduct of such and undertake preparedness based on Operation LISTO.
They are also told to strengthen risk communication and localize the warning to communities through recorida (mobile public address system).
They must also ensure adherence to the national DRRMC guidelines on COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) preparedness measures and submit a regular situation report, highlighting the current situation, preparedness measures, summary of damages and response needs, to the regional DRRMC Operations Center.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Western Visayas also alerted their stations and substations to prepare.
Captain Ludovico Librilla, PCG-Western Visayas District deputy commander, said they were instructed by district commander, Commodore Edgar Ybañez to start conducting an inventory of their available assets in case of a typhoon./PN