MANILA, Philippines—The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday said they will not lower its red alert status even as typhoon Pedring (international name: NESAT) continued to move away from the country since another storm was expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
According to NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos, quoting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said the incoming weather disturbance was seen 1,350 kilometers East of Northern Luzon.
Ramos said they are expecting the new storm to enter the PAR within 24 hours adding that they expect it to gain further strength as it nears the country since it was still out in the sea. Once it enters the PAR, the storm will be called Quiel, Ramos said.
“Tamang-tama na itong preparasyon natin kay Pedring at tuloy-tuloy na kay Quiel (Our preparation for Pedring is just but enough in time for Quiel),” Ramos said.
He added that though they cannot yet determine whether Quiel will be as strong or worse than Pedring, Ramos said that so far, Pagasa’s models showed the new storm will most likely follow Pedring’s path and again hit Northern Luzon.
Ramos said he has ordered the national government agencies and local government units to sustain the readiness they have implemented during the onslaught of Pedring in preparation for the arrival of Quiel.
“Replenish whatever is exhausted. We still have time, habang maganda ang panahon ngayon para sa ganun ay hindi tayo mabigla (while we still have better weather so we won’t be taken by surprise),” Ramos said.
Meanwhile, Pedring, which made landfall in Aurora early Tuesday was already over the West Philippine Sea and was expected to move towards Hong Kong, Ramos said.
Pagasa lowered signal warnings in majority of the provinces of Luzon.