Marcos Orders Release of P1.6 Billion for Tropical Depression

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has ordered the release of more than P1.6 billion in standby funds and over five million family food packs as Tropical Depression Maymay, internationally known as Kujira, and the southwest monsoon continued to affect parts of the country, Malacañang said on Thursday. “The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is now on full alert status in response to the President’s directive,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino on Thursday. She said NDRRMC member agencies had been ordered to enforce preemptive measures to ensure a rapid response and minimize the impact of the tropical depression and enhanced southwest monsoon. Mr. Marcos also ordered preemptive evacuations in flood, landslide and coastal hazard areas. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority deployed rescue personnel and equipment, coordinated with 17 Metro Manila local government units and activated its 73 pumping stations to increase the capacity of waterways. The Palace also ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels in Metro Manila and 22 provinces as heavy rains continued to affect large parts of Luzon. Ms. Castro said the Department of Social Welfare and Development had allocated nearly P1.8 million for humanitarian assistance and distributed family food packs, ready-to-eat food items and sleeping kits to affected areas, including Benguet, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Albay and Zamboanga City. “In total, the government has prepared more than five million family food packs for affected areas, while more than P1.6 billion in standby funds are available nationwide,” she said. As of 2 p.m. on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tropical Depression Maymay had weakened while moving east-southeast over the Cordillera region. The weather bureau said the cyclone was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 75 kph. It could weaken into a remnant low later in the day after crossing Northern Luzon. PAGASA also said Typhoon Dolphin, which remained outside the Philippine area of responsibility, was being monitored, while Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained in effect over parts of Northern Luzon. The agency said the southwest monsoon and Maymay’s periphery would continue to bring strong winds and heavy rains over much of the country in the coming days. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking