Blue alert raised as storm Lando is set to move west across Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is on blue alert as it braces for the effect of tropical storm “Lando,” which is forecast to move west across Luzon.

The agency raised its alert status, placing half of its manpower on standby to monitor and disseminate advisories and warnings down to the regional and provincial levels.

The blue alert is the second highest alert level, with red as the highest alert level of the NDRRMC.

“Lando” entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday. On Thursday, it slowed down but intensified further with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

The tropical storm moved slower at 17 kph in a westward direction and is expected to hit the Isabela or Cagayan area over the weekend. No storm signals were raised so far.

The NDRRMC conducted another pre-disaster risk assessment meeting with concerned agencies on Thursday to prepare for the effects of “Lando.”

So far, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has readied P10,406,475.28 in standby funds in the Ilocos, Cagayan, Central Luzon and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Meanwhile, the agency has also prepared P117,884,769.03 in food and non-food items in the regions in anticipation of the tropical storm.

The NDRRMC has also issued a gale warning for fishermen not to venture out over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon as rough to very rough seas are expected.

The state weather bureau said “Lando” would intensify and might develop into a severe tropical storm by Friday. SFM