Quezon city: The Philippine government, through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), ramped up emergency response operations as Typhoon Nando continues to intensify over the Philippine Sea. The OCD convened an emergency meeting in Quezon City on Saturday afternoon to coordinate preparedness and response measures for the combined effects of the typhoon, a low-pressure area (formerly Tropical Depression Mirasol), and the southwest monsoon.
According to Philippines News Agency, 111 families, or about 380 individuals, have so far been evacuated from the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon. ‘Typhoon Nando has intensified into a typhoon, this is the second-highest category, and we are prioritizing the safety of citizens while ensuring that essential supplies are distributed where they are most needed,’ Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros said.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center had raised its status to red alert for heightened monitoring and coordination. ‘We are on full alert and we urge the public to stay vigilant as well,’ he added.
OCD Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV urged regional counterparts and local government units to intensify public information efforts on weather updates and preparedness actions. “The government is here to assist, but it is everyone’s responsibility to act for our own safety,” he said.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier released advisories on preemptive evacuations and a no-sailing policy, while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau issued warnings to the mining industry. The public is “strongly advised” to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and postpone gatherings or outdoor activities until the weather fully improves.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and representatives from various government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, also attended the meeting. (With reports from Priam Nepomuceno)