Aquino orders relief plan for Storm Bebeng

MANILA, Philippines — President Aquino ordered his officials, on Sunday, to prepare for tropical storm “Bebeng,” which has been expected to dump rains in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Northern Luzon.

From Jakarta, Indonesia where he has been attending the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, President Aquino spoke to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman to issue directives regarding “Bebeng,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told goverment radio dzRB.

“The President gave instructions to prepare the evacuation centers, identify them and for the DSWD to preposition goods to the targeted areas,” Valte said.

She also said that the weather bureau has beefed up its monitoring of the storm to keep people informed of Bebeng’s development.

Valte asked residents in areas affected by the storm to wait for instructions from local authorities and follow them if ever to ensure their safety.

“The government is ready to provide assistance,” she also said.

Bebeng was predicted to make landfall in Catanduanes Sunday morning and move northwest inland.

By Monday morning, the storm is expected to dump rains in the provinces of Isabela and Aurora. Bebeng was forecast to leave the country on Tuesday morning.