BAGUIO CITY - The Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) has reiterated its call for sustained heightened alert as Tropical Storm Kristine slightly accelerated. 'All concerned are advised to be on heightened alert, sustain monitoring activities, and submit preparedness actions and situational reports to the Cordillera (Regional) DRRMC,' CDRRMC chairman and Office of Civil Defense - Cordillera Director Albert Mogol said in Memorandum 131-2024 released by noon on Wednesday. As of the 11 a.m. bulletin of the weather bureau, the Cordillera remains under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2. Mogol said as of 2 a.m. on Wednesday, 880 villages were susceptible to rain-induced landslides and flooding, based on the report of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. Of the total, 74 are in Abra; 124 in Apayao; 56 in Benguet, including Baguio; 156 in Ifugao; 141 in Kalinga; and 129 in the Mountain Province. 'In view of the foregoing and the official pronouncement of President Ferdinand Mar cos Jr., all concerned provincial city, and municipal local DRRMCs and Barangay DRRMCs are directed to maximize the conduct of disaster preparedness activities and the enforcement of pre-emptive evacuation, particularly in areas prone to landslide and flooding,' Mogol said in the order. 'Let us not be complacent even if we are not actually experiencing heavy rains and strong winds. Let us continue to be vigilant with Kristine still threatening us.' Source: Philippines News Agency