Several Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) districts have been placed on heightened alert ahead of Super Typhoon Inday, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), Northern Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol Region and southwestern Mindanao.
PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan directed all concerned districts, stations, and substations to implement preparedness measures to protect coastal communities and maritime stakeholders.
He also ordered close coordination with local disaster risk reduction and management councils and local government units and the activation of preparedness and response measures under the Intensified Community Assistance, Awareness, Response and Enforcement (iCARE) campaign.
“Preparations include facilitating the early evacuation of residents in high-risk coastal areas, issuing sea travel advisories, securing ports and other PCG facilities, and prepositioning deployable response groups for immediate dispatch,” Gavan said in a statement.
The PCG Auxiliary has also been mobilized to augment preparedness and response operations.
Deployable Response Groups have been activated in the PCG Districts of southwestern Mindanao, Bicol, northeastern Luzon, northwestern Luzon and Southern Tagalog.
Other units, including the PCG Regional Training Center Aurora, also have DRGs on standby.
MMDA, MMDRRMC
Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) met Wednesday to strengthen disaster preparedness and interagency coordination ahead of Inday.
Concurrent MMDA and MMDRRMC chair Don Artes led the meeting at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure Metro Manila’s readiness.
Artes said the MMDA is prepared for heavy rains and possible flooding in the NCR.
“The MMDA currently has 73 pumping stations, and they’re all functional. All of our pumping stations are ready for the possibility of heavy rains and flash floods,” Artes said in a separate statement.
He added that the MMDA continues to implement flood mitigation measures, including the “Bayanihan sa Estero” program and continuous declogging operations across Metro Manila.
Office of Civil Defense-NCR Regional Director George Keyser announced that the NCR will be placed under Blue Alert starting Thursday.
He said the Virtual Emergency Operations Center has been activated, while the Physical Emergency Operations Center will operate from Friday to Saturday to ensure immediate coordination among agencies.
The Department of Public Works and Highways-NCR presented updates on flood-prone areas and the prepositioning of personnel and equipment.
In a separate statement, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the “Oplan Kontra Baha” remains operational in flood-prone areas nationwide.
According to Dizon, the project is implemented across various regions, involving cleaning, desilting, dredging and removal of obstructions in waterways to improve rainwater flow and mitigate flood risks.
Currently, the initiative is being implemented in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Tarlac, Naga and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, including Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Maguindanao.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-NCR, meanwhile, reported during the MMDA-MMDRRMC meeting on the availability of family food packs and non-food relief items, while the Mines and Geosciences Bureau presented updates on flood- and rain-induced landslide-prone areas and corresponding recommendations.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the outer circulation of Inday and the enhanced southwest monsoon will bring strong to gale-force gusts over Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Calabarzon, most of Mimaropa, Bicol Region, most of the Visayas and Mindanao.
The super typhoon is expected to remain outside the Philippine landmass as it moves northwest toward Taiwan by Saturday. (PNA)
