CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Acting Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda appeals to the public to avoid panic and assured that all preparations will be laid and be ready even before the possible Ompong onslaught.
He said this during the emergency meeting with the members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in anticipation for Typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong, upon entry to Philippine Area of Responsibility).
“Based on the assessment, by tomorrow afternoon our manpower services will be ready. Our equipment are already on standby in our Operation Centers,” he said.
“I advise you not to panic. We must also pray that the typhoon will change its course and avoid landfall in our country. I already advised the local government units up to the barangay level and they are already preparing on their own,” he added.
Earlier forecasts by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) stated that the effects of the typhoon will be felt in Northern and Central Luzon by Friday afternoon, and that the local government units are alerted over possible disaster.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Angie Blanco meanwhile bared that there are already 18,400 relief packs ready and an additional 5000 hygiene kits and 4,955 cavans of rice were given by the Office of Civil Defense.
She also said that coastal towns and uplands are being constantly monitored.
“Towns within the 4th District are expected to be the first to be affected because of flooding. Uplands are also monitored for possible landslides because of soil oversaturation,” she said.
She then told the Kapampangans to keep in touch with bulletins being posted on social media sites.
“Please be informed with the latest announcements by monitoring PDRRMO’s Facebook account to avoid confusion also from other fake posts circulating the web,” she added.
PHILIP OCAMPO
