The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday urged the public to heed their automated alert warnings including those for the looming threat of Typhoon Ulysses, emphasizing that this could save lives.

NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Cashean Timbal made this remark amid complaints over the loud tones from the alerts sent to their mobile phones.

While apologizing for this, Timbal said automated alert warnings in times of disaster are mandated by law.

“Ako na po ang humihingi ng dispensa at pag-unawa sa mga kababayan natin sa bagay na ito. Nasa batas po (Republic Act 10639/Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act) na dapat mabigyan ng babala ang ating mga kababayan sa pamamagitan ng text message sa panahong may nakaambang panganib sa kanila ng pamayanan (I am apologizing and asking for the people’s understanding regarding this matter. The law says the public should be given warnings through text messages during times of impending danger in their communities due to disasters,” he added.

Timbal said that giving warnings of incoming typhoons and its possible dangers are part and parcel of their job at the NDRRMC.

Also, he added that such warnings are automatically stopped once the danger is past.

“Konting tiis po muna at ito naman po ay para sa ating kaligtasan (Please bear with us because this is for our safety),” Timbal said. (PNA)