The Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6) is urging the public to be vigilant and preemptively evacuate when necessary, in preparation for Tropical Depression Wilma.
“We should not be complacent. As per experience, we have seen how effective in preventing casualty the implementation of preemptive evacuation,” OCD-6 Regional Director Raul Fernandez said in an interview on Thursday, Dec. 4.
He noted that the track of Wilma is similar to the track of Tino and Verbena, both passing Western Visayas.
Based on the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheri, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the strongest tropical cyclone wind signal that could be hoisted in the region is Signal No. 2.
Fernandez said the provincial disaster risk reduction and management councils (PDRRMCs) have already conducted their pre-disaster risk assessment and took the lead in the prepositioning of relief goods, rescue equipment and manpower.
“We are ready for this weather disturbance,” he said.
On Wednesday, the emergency operations center of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council was activated, and its alert level was elevated to blue on Thursday to ensure coordination with concerned agencies.
Fernandez said as early as Dec. 2, they had already released advisories and preparedness measures addressed to provincial, municipal, and city DRRMCs.PNA
