Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has been placed on red alert ahead of Typhoon Odette’s expected landfall.
In a briefing on Wednesday, the agency reported it has already activated its emergency operations center and response clusters for monitoring and immediate disaster response.
Joe-Mar Perez, chief of the Office of Civil Defense operations center, said seven regions have been tagged as “high risk” or “requiring immediate action.”
These are Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga. Concerned regional offices of the NDRRMC have been directed to activate the highest emergency preparedness and response level, or the “Charlie” protocol, Perez added.
He also noted that over ₱331 million worth of resources have already been prepositioned in the high-risk regions. According to NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad, these do not yet include supplies currently stored in the central warehouse of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Meanwhile, classified as “medium risk” — or requiring “high priority for action” — are the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Luzon, on the other hand, are considered “low risk,” which means they need “preparatory and initial action.”
Both the NDRRMC and the DSWD assured the government has enough to purchase additional supplies for typhoon victims should the need arise.
In a statement, the DSWD said some ₱83 million has been earmarked as standby funds for supplies during disaster operations, while over 350,000 family food packs are readily available for immediate distribution.
According to the state weather bureau, Typhoon Odette is expected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon or evening in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas. As the tropical cyclone intensifies, several areas in Visayas and Mindanao have been placed under Signal No. 2.
