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Marcos Jr. tells gov’t agencies, LGUs to prepare for storm surge due to 'Pepito'

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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday told relevant government agencies and local government units to ensure preparedness for storm surges amid the threat of Typhoon Pepito.Marcos Jr. led the situation briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City to assess the impacts of tropical cyclones Ofel and Pepito.The president instructed PAGASA to urgently produce a storm surge map and identify safe evacuation areas to enable affected LGUs to warn residents.Communities at risk of storm surges must prepare for more than just heavy rains and strong winds, Marcos said.“The test is the height of the storm surge, so if it’s at 3 meters, we have to look at the topographical map and see where three meters is. The communities that are within storm surge areas have to do other things besides just preparing for strong winds and heavy rains. Iba ang effect niyan,” Marcos said.“We have to get people to high ground. It’s not enough to move them away from the sea. That’s the only thing we can do in case of a storm surge,” he continued.The state weather bureau on Friday issued a warning of moderate to high-risk, life-threatening storm surges, with heights potentially reaching up to 3 meters above normal tide levels.Affected coastal areas include those in Calabarzon, Bicol and Eastern Visayas.Pepito is forecast to intensify into a super typhoon before landfall over Catanduanes on Saturday evening or Sunday morning, according to PAGASA.It may traverse parts of Bicol and Central Luzon on Sunday evening.Pepito may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday.DSWD continues production of food packs for ongoing disaster ops, potential impact of ‘Pepito’The Department of Social Welfare and Development has been non-stop in producing family food packs to replenish those being distributed in disaster response operations for previous tropical cyclones and in anticipation of the impact of Typhoon Pepito.“While we do preposition, we produce in our warehouses simultaneously… We produce, preposition, dispatch and respond—all at the same time,” Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said during the briefing.Before the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, the DSWD had a national stockpile of 2.096 million family food packs.The agency maintains a national stockpile of 1.3 million family food packs.Gatchalian said the DSWD targets to produce close to 1 million family food packs from November 30 to December 7.“This is on top of the 1.3 [million]. Laging tinatanong kung kaya pa natin. Kaya natin because we just got our QRF and we can produce another 1 million FFPs,” the secretary said.At present, 455,815 family food packs are prepositioned in areas that may possibly be hit by Pepito.<div>400K people affected, 3K houses damaged by Nika, Ofel </div>A total of 109,263 families or 419,923 individuals have been affected by tropical cyclones Nika and Ofel in the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol and Cordillera Administrative Region.In its latest situational report on Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 29,123 people are taking shelter in evacuation centers, while 30,060 people are staying with relatives and friends.At least two people were reported injured amid the onslaught of Nika and Ofel.Two more were reported missing.Some 3,214 houses were damaged by the two cyclones, the NDRRMC added.Of these, 2,922 were partially damaged while 292 were totally destroyed.The weather disturbances brought heavy rains that caused floods in 176 areas, and power outages in 71 cities and municipalities.Classes in 579 areas and work in 212 areas were suspended due to the expected impact of Nika and Ofel.Damage to infrastructure worth P320.65 million and to agriculture worth P855,000 were reported.A state of calamity was declared in Dilasag, Aurora.Assistance worth P23,062,167 has been provided to the victims so far, the NDRRMC said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday told relevant government agencies and local government units to ensure preparedness for storm surges amid the threat of Typhoon Pepito.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday told relevant government agencies and local government units to ensure preparedness for storm surges amid the threat of Typhoon Pepito.