Marcos tells public to stay vigilant, prioritize safety amid Aghon

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the turnover of cash assistance to El Niño-hit communities in Region 10 on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Photo from RTV Malacañang.

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged the public, especially those in areas affected by tropical storm Aghon (international name: Ewiniar), to “stay vigilant and prioritize their safety.”

In a post in X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Marcos likewise directed local government units and emergency units nationwide to monitor the situation across the country.

READ: Tropical storm Aghon keeps strength; Slowly moving over Mauban, Quezon

“The well-being of our people is our utmost priority. I have directed local government units, emergency services, and all relevant agencies to work tirelessly in monitoring the situation and providing necessary assistance,” the chief executive wrote.

As Tropical Storm #AghonPH continues to move across our country, I urge everyone in the affected areas to stay vigilant and prioritize your safety.

The well-being of our people is our utmost priority. I have directed local government units, emergency services, and all relevant…

— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) May 26, 2024

“Food and non-food items, health services, and evacuation centers are all being mobilized to support affected communities. Let us all look out for one another, especially the most vulnerable members of our communities,” he added.

Based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) 2 p.m. update, Aghon was last spotted in Mauban, Quezon, traversing in a northeastward direction slowly.

The tropical storm is carrying maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center with gustiness of up to 125 kph.

Meanwhile, wind signals are still raised in most Luzon areas, affecting a total of 2,734 people, or 513 families, with 2,669 currently staying in evacuation centers.