President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed relevant government agencies on Friday to move people to higher ground in preparation for a possible storm surge brought about by incoming typhoon Pepito.
Pepito is expected to hit the Visayas, Bicol and Central Luzon regions.
In a press briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), President Marcos emphasized the need for swift government action to ensure the welfare and safety of residents in areas to be affected by the weather disturbance.
“The communities that are within the storm surge areas have to do other things besides just prepare for strong winds and heavy rain. Kasi pag-pasok [ng bagyo], ibang effect niyan. So, we have to get them to the high ground,” President Marcos said.
“It’s not enough to move them away from the sea. We have to get them to high ground. That’s the only thing that we can do when there is a storm surge,” the Chief Executive added during the situation briefing attended by various government agencies.
President Marcos said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) must quickly communicate all necessary information to all concerned local government units (LGUs).
He also stressed the importance of informing the public about the risks associated with typhoon Pepito.
The President wanted all government assets, such as emergency vehicles, heavy equipment, rubber boats and air assets, to be pre-deployed near areas to be hit by the typhoon.
He warned Pepito is a very large and strong typhoon and may hit Eastern Visayas, Bicol region and Central Luzon. President Marcos said residents of the said regions must be warned and brace for impact.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) called on LGUs to carry out preemptive evacuation starting Friday, Nov. 15.
It advised the national and local governments to take advantage of the calm between typhoons Ofel and Pepito by continuing responses for Marce and Nika and to prepare for the incoming typhoon..
Information dissemination in the forms of alerts and warnings to the public must be done using both local and national media platforms, it said.
The OCD advised the public to refrain from unnecessary travels to keep supply routes open for rescue and relief operations.
“It’s going to be a good way to advise the public that supply routes have to be open, supply lines have to be open for emergency purposes,” an OCD official said. (PND)
