Palace calls for vigilance as ‘Usman’ nears landfall

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday called on the public to be vigilant and coordinate with their local disaster management offices as Tropical Depression “Usman” neared landfall in Eastern Visayas.

“We encourage citizens to be vigilant and monitor the situation through news and announcements from pertinent national and local government agencies,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

The Palace official noted that according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), as of Friday morning, the Department of Social Welfare and Development had a stockpile of family food packs and non-food items, and standby funds amounting to P1,274,278,561.78.

The Department of Health also reported that it had P7,331,273.66 worth of logistics prepositioned in Regions VI, VIII and XI, Panelo added.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Usman’s center was at 230 km East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, at 10 a.m.

Pagasa said Usman could intensify into a tropical storm prior to landfall over Eastern Samar tonight. It is also expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility between Sunday evening (Dec. 30) and Monday morning (Dec. 31). /cbb

READ: ‘Usman’ stays on track towards Easter Visayas