Disaster response cluster activated for “Urduja”

December 15, 2017

The Philippine government has activated the disaster response cluster as tropical storm "Urduja (Kai-Tak)" was expected to make landfall over Northern Samar-Eastern Samar on Saturday, an official said on Friday.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Social Welfare Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco said his office has already a stockpile of about 368,000 family food packs, amounting to P123 million, and available food and non-food items amounting to P393 million.

"We have already activated the disaster response cluster. It’s (Urduja) expected to make a landfall over Eastern Samar. And the estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy, with the 400-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm," he said.

Leyco said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD ) has also a standby fund of P245 million at the central office and its field offices.

He said they would continue to monitor the movement of the storm and they would respond accordingly.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in its 2pm advisory on Friday scattered to widespread rains would continue over Eastern Visayas and Caraga and is expected to prevail over Bicol Region and the rest of Visayas within 24 hours.

Packing winds of up to 75 kph near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph, Urduja was estimated at 230 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar as of 1pm Friday.

Tropical cyclone warning signal No. 2 was hoisted in Norther Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar and Biliran. Celerina Monte/DMS