NDRRMC prepares for entry of low pressure area into country

December 28, 2017

Faced with the possibility of a third storm in as many weeks, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) convened on Thursday its Emergency Response Preparedness Core Group as a low pressure area nears the Philippine area of responsibility.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services ( Pagasa) is watching the low pressure area which is projected to enter the country's area of responsibility between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

It is expected to develop into a tropical depression in the afternoon of December 31 or early morning of New Year’s Day, January 1 2018. It will be named Wilma.

Pagasa projected this weather disturbance to make landfall between the afternoon of January 1 2018 to early morning of January 1 2018.

"The highest rainfall amount for this weather disturbance might be experienced. The path of the LPA may still change prior to entering PAR. As it moves closer, the state weather bureau will provide more details as to what to expect and prepare for," said the NDRRMC in a statement Thursday.

"The public is advised not to discount weather advisories and warnings especially if there is a call for pre-emptive and force evacuation," it added.

The NDRRMC continues with its response operations in relation to Tropical Storm Urduja and Typhoon Vinta. Search rescue and retrieval operations are ongoing as well as distributing relief assistance to the storm and typhoon-stricken communities.

The NDRRMC operations center remains on red alert for monitoring the effects of Vinta and in preparation for the approaching weather system.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has alerted the local government units concerned to take the necessary preparations especially in recently affected communities by Urduja and Vinta.

“One life lost is one too many. While many of our affected fellowmen in Visayas and Mindanao are on the process of recovery, we need to be alert and vigilant as another weather disturbance threatens the country. We enjoin the public to actively share advisories and warnings only from credible sources,” said NDRRMC spokesperson Romina Marasigan. DMS