NDRRMC, DOH remain on alert even if Gorio moving away from PHL

Tropical Storm Gorio (Rumbia) may be moving away from the Philippines, but disaster management and health authorities will remain on alert, especially in areas affected by the cyclone.

While the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will remain on blue alert, government hospitals will remain on white alert, radio dzBB reported Sunday afternoon.

A blue alert for the NDRRMC means 50 percent of its personnel should always be ready to respond to contingencies at any time.

For its part, the Department of Health said a Code White alert is adopted when there is a forecast cyclone or a national holiday.

Under a Code White alert (.pdf), emergency service personnel at the hospital dorm shall be placed on call status and emergency medicines should be stocked and made available.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority cautioned advertisers against restoring their billboards while storm signals are still in effect.

MMDA assistant general manager for operations Emerson Carlos said the billboards can go up again when the Office of Civil Defense says Gorio has exited the Philippines.

PAGASA earlier said Gorio is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility early Monday.

Palace satisfied with preparations for Gorio

Malacañang on Sunday voiced satisfaction with the preparations by the government for the onslaught of Gorio, which dumped rain on parts of the country this weekend.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III monitored the effects of the weather and the path of the storm until past midnight.

“Maganda ang naging preparation natin. So far sabi ng NDRRMC reported walang casualty. Sana it stays that way,” she said on government-run dzRB radio when asked if Aquino was satisfied with the preparations.

But she maintained the government still cannot relax as it is checking for the effects of the storm. “Patuloy ang ating pagbabantay,” she said.

Valte added that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority appeared to be prepared in terms of disaster preparedness while disaster response teams had been activated since Saturday.

Also, she said that there were reports of minor landslides in Bicol, but that these were quickly cleared.

Many power lines that were downed by the storm have been restored, she added. — BM, GMA News