Preemptive evacuation ordered in 8 regions ahead of Pepito

Ofel track and intensity, while another storm (Man-yi) is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility. Photo from Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday instructed eight of its regional offices to start preemptive evacuations as part of precautionary measures for Tropical Storm Man-yi, to be named Pepito once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

OCD Operations Service Director Cesar Idio said the evacuations would start Nov. 15 in Regions 1, 2, 3, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, 5, 6 and 7.

READ: Storm outside PAR strengthens as it approaches PH, may arrive Thursday

“So starting tomorrow po ang order ng ating Secretary of National Defense na mag preemptive evacuation na (So starting tomorrow [Friday], our Secretary of National Defense [Gilberto Teodoro Jr.] ordered the start of pre-emptive evacuations),” he said in a media briefing.

Idio said that doing this would give them enough window to further prepare until Saturday.

“Local government units (LGUs) together with concerned agencies are being advised to ensure the readiness of evacuation centers and local response units to support pre-emptive evacuation activities,” he added.

Man-yi is barreling toward the Philippines and is seen to batter a large part of Luzon by weekend. It is expected to enter the PAR Thursday night.

Apart from preemptive evacuations, OCD regional offices are instructed to ensure the “replenishment and prepositioning of resources during this window”.

“While the national government is on top of the situation, we are emphasizing as well that LGU preparation is key to ensuring public safety against the threat of national hazards such as floods and landslides,” Idio said.