MANILA -- The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and its member agencies met in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City for a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) Wednesday to minimize the possible ill-effects of Tropical Storm "Inday".
The PDRA, held at NDRRM Operations Center, was presided over by Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Operations Nicanor Faeldon.
In attendance were Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary Renato Solidum and various representatives from NDRRMC member agencies which include DOST-PAGASA, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines Geoscience Bureau, Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine Coast Guard, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, National Economic and Development Authority, Bureau of Fire Protection, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and the Department of Education.
In line with this, the NDRRMC remains on blue alert as it continuously monitors the effects of tropical storms Henry and Inday and the enhanced habagat.
Blue alert is raised when there is a tropical depression within the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the rainfall is between 15 to 30 millimeters in an hour and expected to continue in the next two hours, and if there is threatened flooding.
The Regional DRRM Councils are on standby for any eventuality.
In its 4 a.m. forecast, state-run weather bureau PAGASA said Inday is almost stationary and last observed 84 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes with occasional winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
Moderate to occasional heavy monsoon rains is expected over the regions of Ilocos and Cordillera, and the provinces of Bataan, Zambales, Batanes, and the Babuyan Group of Islands.
Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon. Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
Central Luzon and the eastern section of northern Luzon will have strong to gale winds from the southwest with rough to very rough coastal waters.
Temperature in Metro Manila will range from 24-29 degrees Celsius; Tuguegarao City 25-31 degrees Celsius; Baguio City 16-19 degrees Celsius; Metro Cebu 26-33 degrees Celsius; and Metro Davao 26-33 degrees Celsius. (PNA)
