OCD-Davao tells Dabawenyos to brace for another possible storm
By Ralph Lawrence G. Llemit
THE Office of the Civil Defense-Davao Region (OCD-Davao) told Dabawenyos to brace for the possible entry of another tropical depression in the country, which is anticipated to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and affect the region this Christmas weekend.
Louise Mark Cirunay, OCD-Davao Chief of the Operations Section, said their office has monitored another low-pressure area (LPA), which is expected to affect Davao Region.
In the December 22 advisory of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the LPA over the Pacific is expected to enter the PAR on the 26th or 27th of December this year. It will be closest to the landmass of Mindanao on the evening of the 29th or the morning of the 30th of December.
The weather bureau said the LPA has a 60 to 70 percent chance to develop into a tropical depression.
“We are looking forward na unta dili na ni siya ma-develop into a typhoon. Pero (that this won’t develop into a typhoon. But) this will bring lots of rain. So mangandam gyud ta (we need to prepare),” Cirunay said on Wednesday afternoon, December 22, during the One Davao on Covid-19 virtual presser.
Cirunay advised the public to continue monitoring for possible changes on the forecast scenario, undertake precautionary measures.
The possible entry of another LPA comes more than a week since Typhoon Odette made landfall in the entire country, which damaged properties and infrastructures, and claimed many lives.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 235 families were affected by the onslaught of Odette.
In a situation report as of December 18, a total of 235 families composed of 627 individuals from three barangays in Davao Region, specifically in Davao de Oro and Davao City, were affected due to the impact of Typhoon Odette, based on the NDRRMC report.
However, there were no casualties or injuries recorded. No major damage to properties and infrastructures was also reported.
Meanwhile, Cirunay said their office, along with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Davao, has already deployed its humanitarian assistance to Caraga Region, which is one of the most affected regions in the country due to Odette.
In addition, their office had already mobilized additional resources such as sea vessels loaded with food assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, a medical team from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and 15 trucks of food and non-food items, both from the government and private sectors. RGL
