BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has activated its Response Cluster and elevated the alert level of the CRDRRMC to red as the enhanced habagat or Southwest monsoon continues to threaten the region.
Office of Civil Defense Regional Director and CRDRRMC Chairperson Albert Mogol directed the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to be on “Red alert” to ensure maximum, timely and responsive, monitoring, warning, coordination and interoperability, and facilitation of preparedness and response readiness measures in the region.
To ensure harmonized and coordinated actions, Mogol also advised all Response Cluster member agencies and local DRRM councils to synchronize their alert levels with the EOC and provide immediate situational and response action updates. The CRDRRMC also maintains a virtual room open for prompt coordination.
The CRDRRMC Response Cluster lead by the Department of Social Welfare and Development has activated its response hub and quick response teams are on standby alert.
As of midnight of July 24, DSWD-CAR recorded a total of 1,488 families and a total of 5,819 persons affected in 39 barangays in three provinces of Cordillera namely; Benguet including Baguio City, Abra and Mountain Province.
DSWD-CAR data also show 10 families (58 persons) being served inside evacuation centers and 23 families (94 persons) being served outside evacuation centers.
DSWD-CAR Regional Director Maria Aplaten assured that substantial food and non-food items are strategically prepositioned in the DSWD warehouse and satellite warehouses in the different parts of the region.
As of 11am (July 25) forecast of DOST-PAGASA, Typhoon Carina is already out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility and less likely to directly bring heavy rainfall over any portion of the country.
The public though is still advised to take precautionary measures and prioritize safety as the enhanced habagat may continue to bring rains.
Mogol also reiterated his advice to the public to remain vigilant especially with the threat of flashfloods and landslides in their communities.
“With the reports coming from the local disaster risk reduction and management councils and offices on the effects of the Southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Carina, nais kong paalalahanan ang publiko na mag-ingat sa mga posibleng landslide at pagbaha sa kani-kanilang lugar,” Mogol said.
“Ipagpaliban muna ang pagbiyahe dahil sa banta ng sama ng panahon. Sumubaybay sa weather advisories ng PAGASA para alamin ang bagong updates tungkol sa bagyo. Mag- evacuate kung kinakailangan, at patuloy na makipag-ugnayan sa inyong Local DRRM offices para sa anumang pangyayari sa inyong lugar,” he added. **CCD-PIA CAR