NDRRMC on 'red alert' for Typhoon Bising

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is on "red alert" for the potential impact of Typhoon Bising in the country, especially in areas on the eastern seaboard.

"Naka-red alert ang ating NDRRMC at mga regional disaster risk reduction and management council lalo na dito sa Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, at tsaka Northern Luzon," NDRRMC executive director Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad told Dobol B TV on Sunday.

(The NDRRMC is on red alert as well as our regional disaster risk reduction and management councils especially those in Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, and Northern Luzon.)

According to Jalad, local government units have already been advised through the Department of the Interior and Local Government to prepare for preventive evacuations if the situation gets worse.

He added that NDRRMC response units, along with uniformed personnel, are already on alert, as well as other member-agencies of the council including the Office of Civil Defense, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Jalad said the NDRRMC is looking at the "worst case scenario" for the typhoon. Although PAGASA forecasts that Typhoon Bising will not make a landfall and will move to a northward direction, they do not discount the opposite.

"Isa rin yan sa ating pinaghahandaan maaaring tumama sa atin o lumapit sa atin as a super typhoon level" (That's what we are also preparing for, the possibility of the typhoon making landfall or coming in contact with us a super typhoon), he said.

Meanwhile, Jalad said they will use other possible evacuation facilities aside from the existing ones to ensure the observance of social distancing and other minimum health standards of those that have to be evacuated.

He could not tell yet how many individuals are in evacuation centers, but assured the public that local government units are on top of the situation on ground.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Typhoon Bising has slightly decelerated but maintained its strength as it traverses the eastern Philippine Sea.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 2 is currently hoisted over the provinces of Catanduanes, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar, while TCWS No. 1 is raised in 12 other areas. —LBG, GMA News