OCD in Regions 1, 2, 3, CAR on red alert ahead of Typhoon Mangkhut

The offices of the Office of Civil Defense in Regions 1, 2, 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region are already on red alert on Tuesday in preparation for Typhoon Mangkhut, according to a report on Dobol B sa News TV by Jonathan Andal.

Mangkhut, which will be renamed Ompong once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), is expected to become a super typhoon and may barrel through Northern Luzon this week.

Undersecretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said the food packs and rescue equipment have already been prepositioned in provinces seen to be hit by Ompong.

Office of Civil Defense Region 2, naghahanda na sa hagupit ng typhoon 'Mangkhut;' OCD regions 1, 2, 3 at Cordillera, naka-red alert na. | via @JonathanAndal_

????: OCD 2 pic.twitter.com/W4A6PlujdI

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 10, 2018

The Department of Social Welfare and Development is studying the possibility of adding more relief goods available.

The public was advised to make ready their emergency kits and follow orders to evacuate if necessary.

At 5 p.m. on Monday, the NDRRMC raised its alert status to blue amid Tropical Depression Neneng and less than 48 hours before Ompong's entry.

The DSWD has earmarked P1.7 billion worth of standby fund, food and non-food items ahead of Ompong. 

PAGASA reported on Tuesday morning that Mangkhut had accelerated slightly and was 1,820 kms east of southern Luzon at 4 a.m., still outside the PAR, and was moving westwards 30 kph.

Mangkhut still had 160 kph sustained winds and gusts of up to 195 kph. —KG, GMA News