Malacañang on Monday called on the public, especially those on the path of Tropical Depression (TD) Odette, to stay vigilant and coordinate with local disaster management offices.
“We ask everyone, especially those residing in affected areas, to keep up to date with the latest weather advisories and bulletins, to take precautionary measures, and to cooperate with local authorities should there be a need for evacuation or other necessary actions,” Acting Presidential Spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a Palace statement.
He also assured that government is “closely monitoring” the tropical depression.
Nograles said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is making the necessary preparations in coordination with the regional and local disaster risk reduction and management councils to ensure the safety of the public.
As of Sunday, he said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has available stockpiles and standby funds earmarked for disaster response.
In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the tropical depression is forecast to move generally west-northwest and will likely enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as a severe tropical storm on Tuesday evening.
“Once inside PAR, the domestic name Odette will be assigned to this tropical cyclone. The west-northwestward movement is forecast to continue until Wednesday morning,” the Pagasa bulletin read.
Afterward, the tropical cyclone will turn westward and may make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas by Thursday afternoon or evening.
“Odette” is forecast to gradually intensify within the forecast period and may reach the typhoon category by Wednesday. A peak intensity of around 150 kilometers per hour may be reached before landfall.
The current track and intensity forecast shows that there is a high likelihood that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) will be hoisted for the Visayas, large portions of Mindanao, and several provinces in Southern Luzon due to the threat of strong to typhoon-force winds.
Pagasa said the highest possible wind signal that may be hoisted is TCWS #3. Localities situated in the eastern portions of Visayas and Mindanao may be placed under TCWS #1 as early as Tuesday afternoon or evening.
The passage of this tropical cyclone over the central portion of the archipelago may bring heavy rainfall over the Visayas, large portions of Mindanao, and several provinces in Southern Luzon.
Coastal inundation due to high waves near the coast and storm surges are also possible for low-lying localities near and along the path of the typhoon.
Residents over the northern and eastern portions of Northern Luzon and the eastern portion of Central Luzon are also advised to monitor for updates regarding possible heavy rainfall which may occur in relation to the behavior of the shear line during and after the passage of this tropical cyclone.
Source: Philippines News Agency
