MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the government is ready to respond in cases of emergency as Tropical Depression “Usman” is set to make landfall in Eastern Samar on Friday evening.
Lorenzana, who also chairs the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), said in a Palace briefing that concerned government agencies have been preparing for “Usman” since a week ago.
“Yung mga NDRRMC local (units), nag-prepare na iyan. Everything is prepared. May supplies, mga responders, our military, and police are prepared for that,” Lorenzana said.
(The local units of the NDRRMC are prepared. Everything is prepared. There are supplies, responders. The military and the police are prepared for that.)
“Hindi naman ito malakas na bagyo but at the same time, kahit na mahina ‘yung hangin but the rains will be very strong so magkakaron ng mga bahat at landslide (This is not a strong typhoon, but the rains will be very strong so flooding and landslides are expected), so that’s what we are trying to prevent, prevent people from succumbing from landslide and floodings,” he added.
Malacañang earlier said that as of Friday morning, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has a stockpile of family food packs and non-food items, plus standby funds amounting to P1,274,278,561.78.
The Department of Health, meanwhile, reported the total amount of P7,331,273.66 allotted for logistics in Regions VI, VIII and XI.
READ: Palace calls for vigilance as ‘Usman’ nears landfall
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Usman was last spotted at 230 kilometers East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, at 10 a.m.
The tropical depression could intensify into a tropical storm prior to landfall over Eastern Samar tonight. /ee
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