NDRRMC: Heavy rains caused by Ompong to start Thursday

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday warned that the public may start to experience heavy rainfalls by Thursday due to Typhoon Mangkhut or Ompong, once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

According to the NDRRMC, Mangkhut is expected to affect Northern Luzon, Cagayan, the Cordilleras, and Central Luzon.

However, the typhoon is expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon, which in turn will bring rains over the Visayas, MIMAROPA, Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao and CARAGA.

"As it approaches malakas na 'yung pagulan eh. Kung tatama man siya sa lupa, expected landfall is early morning of Saturday. Pero 'yung malakas na pagulan, Friday pa lang mararamdaman na even Thursday," NDRRMC Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad said in a press briefing.

Jalad noted that preemptive evacuation of residents in flood-prone areas must start by later part of Thursday up to Friday, adding that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is already releasing advisories to local government units for evacuation measures.

"Preemptive evacuation talaga ang kailangan diyan, 'yung mga communities prone to storm surge ay kailangan talaga ievacuate... kailangan natin ngayon 'yung assessment kung magkakaron ba talaga ng storm surge. Kailangan mabilis magdecide 'yung local chief executive kung kailangan na ba magevacuate," Jalad said.

The NDRRMC official said storm surge is possible in the coastal areas of Western Luzon, including Cagayan.

"Importante kasi dito 'yung early evacuation, base doon sa forecast ng PAGASA, especially along the coastal areas of Cagayan, or western coast of Luzon, posibleng magkaroon ng storm surge," Jalad said.

Jalad also mentioned that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is already considering prepositioning more relief goods to some areas.

"Meron na silang preposition of relief goods but DSWD is still considering adding more relief goods and teams that we'll be deploying will be bringing with them some additional relief goods as well as communication equipment and other response equipment," Jalad said. —NB, GMA News