In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has prepared for the possible effects of Tropical Storm “Crising” and the intensified southwest monsoon, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Friday.

“Alinsunod po sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo na pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan, ang NDRRMC Operation Center po ay naka-alerto na, red alert na po simula kahapon and even the previous days ay naka-blue alert na po tayo,” OCD Spokesperson Junie Castillo said in a Palace press briefing.

“Ibig sabihin po, lahat ng ating mga response capacities, lahat ng ating mga response personnel at saka iyong mga prepositioned po na food and non-food items ay nakahanda po itong mai-deploy,” Castillo said.

The inter-agency coordinating council has conducted a pre-disaster risk assessment and scenario building even before the cyclone entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) to determine people’s needs and areas that may be affected, he added.

The national response cluster is also continuing its monitoring and preparations, in collaboration with the regional offices of the OCD and regional DRRM councils.

Castillo said the President visited the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City to oversee preparations for the prepositioning of relief goods.

“Nationwide po ay naka-preposition na po tayo doon sa ating mga food and non-food items, mga family food packs,” he said.

Castillo said that as of 9 am Friday, there were around 7,500 affected families in Mimaropa, Western and Central Visayas, and Soccsksargen. | PND