Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., as chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), ordered immediate evacuations in high-risk areas as Tropical Storm Leon approaches.
The directive, aimed at minimizing loss of life, calls on local leaders to enforce mandatory evacuations, with the storm expected to intensify into a typhoon within 24 hours, Teodoro said on Monday evening.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), under officer-in-charge Undersecretary Lord Villanueva, issued a memorandum urging local government units (LGUs) to comply with the NDRRMC directive.
“This measure is very crucial to save lives. Being proactive will save lives; it’s better to take action now than to regret later and lose lives,” Teodoro said, emphasizing the importance of timely evacuations.
Office of the Civil Defense administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno reported that the government has already provided family food packs, hygiene kits, and other essentials to over 46,000 families in Ilocos region, 34,600 in Cagayan Valley, and 86,600 in Calabarzon.
Around P5 million in aid has been directed to the Bicol region, while distribution efforts continue in other affected areas.
The DILG memorandum prioritizes vulnerable groups, including children, elderly, and persons with disabilities, urging regional directors and local officials to implement evacuation plans promptly. In addition, the Bureau of Fire Protection and Philippine National Police are mobilized to assist in the operations.
“Let’s continue to be proactive, especially with Bicol’s current situation where several towns and cities still remain under water. We always aim for zero casualty in the event of disasters, so we strongly urge the public to heed our protocols,” Teodoro said.
The evacuation orders will remain in effect until the threat from Tropical Storm Leon passes.
