TWO weather systems will bring cloudy skies and scattered rain to most parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Tuesday.
The tail of a cold front affecting the eastern section of Southern Luzon will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers over Samar, the Bicol Region, Quezon, the Mindoro provinces, Marinduque and Romblon, the agency said.
In other developments:
• Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said Tuesday it is helping the government in its effort to bring relief to the areas affected by Tropical Storm “Vinta.”
PAL spokeswoman Maria Cielo Villaluna said the airline brought free of charge relief goods totaling 13,306 kilograms to the residents of Mindanao affected by the storm.
She said the airline upgraded to wide-body aircraft for its flights from Manila to Davao to carry ready-to-eat food, collapsible water containers, water purifying tablets, plastic mats, mosquito nets and blankets.
• Health Secretary Francisco Duque on Tuesday ordered an increase in the supply of medicines and other supplies in the regions hit by the storm.
“The [Department of Health] expresses its sympathy to our countrymen on this tragic event, especially with the loss of lives and with many still reported missing along with their homes,” Duque said.
“This is very sad especially at this time when families should be celebrating Christmas and preparing for the festivities of the New Year.”
• Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday called for a full review of the disaster protocols in the wake of Tropical Storm Vinta.
“I am calling for a full review of our existing protocols for disaster risk reduction and management from the national government level down to the local governments to find out if there are loopholes in the system and the steps to take to address those,” Binay said.
A total of 164 people were reported killed in Regions IX, X, and in the ARMM while 176 were reported missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The weather bureau said the prevailing northeast monsoon will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera Administrative Region and Aurora province.
The agency said the rest of Luzon will experience party cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.
The Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers. with Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta