The tropical depression east of Northern Luzon has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and is now called Neneng, the state weather bureau said Thursday.
In a Facebook post, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Depression Neneng entered PAR at noon.
In an earlier bulletin, PAGASA said after it enters PAR, the cyclone will track west southwestward to westward beginning Friday through Saturday, before turning west northwestward towards Extreme Northern Luzon.
It may also intensify while moving over the Philippine Sea and may reach the tropical storm category by Saturday.
Because of this, there is a high likelihood that Tropical Cyclone WindSignals will be hoisted over Batanes and several provinces in Northern Luzon, PAGASA said.
Neneng’s passage over Extreme Northern Luzon may bring heavy rainfall over the area beginning Saturday, Oct. 15.
Meanwhile, the former Tropical Depression Maymay has so far affected 1,857 families in three regions in the country.
In its Thursday update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said these families are residing in 34 barangays located in Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
The NDRRMC said these families are equivalent to 7,069 persons. Of these, only 31 families or 86 individuals are being sheltered in six evacuation centers.
The NDRRMC has yet to release any casualties or damages that might be attributed to Maymay as of this time.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF), meanwhile, has readied all its disaster response task units and assets for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said all these units have been placed on alert.
She added that PAF’s disaster response teams are equipped with hard hats, life vests, chainsaws, axes, crowbars, hammers, rubber boats, utility ropes, flashlights, radios, stretchers, ladders, shovels, generators, lifesavers, and medical equipment, thus making them capable of search, relief, rescue, and recovery operations as well enabling them to provide medical aid.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday announced that the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), under Lt. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr., has alerted all units in Northern Luzon for possible deployment in areas expected to be affected by bad weather.
These include the disaster response units of all battalions and brigades under Nolcom’s joint operational area that will be affected by the disaster, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said.
He also added that air and naval assets under the operational control of the Nolcom are also on standby and may be used for aerial assessment, transport, and evacuation operations.
The National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) on Thursday said it would close the spillway gate of the Magat Dam in Isabela province.
The NIA made the announcement as forecast rainfall remained light after the former Tropical Depression Maymay weakened into a low-pressure area.
In a Facebook post, the NIA-MARIIS said it shut the spillway gate around 11 a.m.
Also on Thursday, the Palace said it was committed to providing timely and accurate information in times of emergency and disaster.
The assurance came as the Office of the Press Secretary joined the international community in commemorating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
“We at OPS and other agencies are committed to delivering factual and prompt information about calamities to inform, educate, and warn the Filipino people in times of emergency and disaster,” it added.
The United Nations General Assembly has designated Oct. 13 of every year as International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction to promote a global culture of disaster risk reduction, according to the United Nations (UN) official website.
This year’s celebration of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction focuses on the goal to “substantially increase the
availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.”
In August, President Marcos stressed the need to review standard operating procedures to create a uniform and coordinated approach during disasters.
He also sought the prepositioning of satellite phones, generators, and water once an alert is raised.
Mr. Marcos also cited the importance of using airlift assets for disaster response and seeking engineers’ assistance in clearing operations and building temporary structures.