Marcos: Gov’t doing best to help Bicol, mitigate Kristine’s impact

Search and rescue operations in Zone 6, Libon, Albay, October 23, 2024. (Official Facebook page of Coast Guard District Bicol)

MANILA – The government is ramping up its efforts to hasten the Bicol Region’s recovery and mitigate the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) on other parts of the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured the public on Thursday.

“We have been tirelessly and urgently working towards the immediate deployment of relief, recovery, and rehabilitation amidst the severe devastation caused by Typhoon Kristine in the Bicol Region,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.

“We are now intensifying, as well, preparations as this generational typhoon makes its way to Southern Tagalog, and barrels towards Northern Luzon,” he added.

Marcos said he has directed all government agencies and offices, as well as his administration’s partners in the private and non-government sector, to “pitch in, strengthen and reinforce the bulwark which we have built against this raging tempest.”

He said the national government has allocated its resources to extend the necessary assistance to typhoon-hit areas to ensure their swift recovery.

“Our priority there is to mitigate the damage it may cause, evacuate those living in hazardous areas, and to preposition necessary goods and personnel to ensure the continuous availability of essential supplies once the Typhoon arrives,” Marcos said.

Marcos expressed confidence that with “united and swift movement and action,” the country will be able to recover and rise again as a “stronger and stable nation.”

“Sa mga minamahal kong kababayan na apektado ng bagyong ito, o may mga kapamilya o minamahal na naninirahan sa mga lugar na direktang tinamaan: dumating na ang tulong sa maraming lugar, paparating na ang tulong sa iba pa, ipagkakaloob ang buong saklolo, at walang sinumang Pilipino ang maiiwan (To my beloved countrymen who are affected by this storm, or have family members or loved ones living in areas directly hit: help has arrived in many places, help is coming to others, full relief will be provided, and no one Filipinos will be left behind),” he said.

In a press briefing earlier Thursday, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said teams and equipment from the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), as well as reinforcement teams from Eastern Visayas, have been deployed to augment relief and rescue and operations in the Bicol Region.

Posadas said the OCD is also ready to provide assistance to “less affected regions.”

Kristine is forecast to move westward or west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday afternoon, according to the 5 p.m. weather advisory issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

However, PAGASA’s extended outlook showed that Kristine will be looping over the WPS on Sunday and Monday and will move eastward or east northwestward towards the general direction of the PAR region.

“This scenario heavily depends on the behavior of the weather disturbance east of the PAR region which is expected to develop into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours,” PAGASA said. “Kristine is forecast to re-intensify as it moves over the West Philippine Sea. While it is likely that the tropical cyclone will remain a severe tropical storm in the next five days, the chance for it to be upgraded into a typhoon is not ruled out.” (PNA)