MANILA -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) ordered all component agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to prepare for the possible impact of approaching Typhoon 'Kammuri'.
We also advise affected residents to expect possible pre-emptive evacuations and take precautionary measures. Let us learn from our history of our past typhoons and become more cooperative and prepared," OCD administrator Ricardo Jalad said in a statement Thursday.
Jalad said the NDRRMC is now on "blue alert" status to monitor the effects and response actions for the typhoon.
Emergency operation centers have also been activated in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Bicol.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said "Kammuri" has intensified into a typhoon as it slows down while moving toward the country.
In its latest tropical cyclone advisory, PAGASA said the northeast monsoon is also affecting northern and central Luzon.
'Kammuri' is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between Saturday evening and Sunday morning and will be given the local name "Tisoy", the country's 20th cyclone for 2019.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal number 1 may be raised over the eastern portion of Bicol-Eastern Visayas area on Sunday.
The typhoon's outer rainbands may bring scattered rains and thunderstorms over the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas on Monday.
At 4 a.m. Friday, "Kammuri" is at 1,350 kilometers east of southern Luzon with maximum sustained winds at 130 kilometers per hour, gustiness of up to 160 kph, and moving west at 25 kph. (PNA)
