Manila: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Thursday convened a virtual emergency operations center (EOC) in preparation for the possible effects of a low pressure area (LPA) spotted east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon. The virtual EOC, created in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to strengthen national disaster preparedness, will be active 24/7 and serve as a central coordination platform for all relevant government agencies and uniformed services, the OCD said in a statement.
According to Philippines News Agency, "There is no room for complacency. We are already working with all stakeholders to prepare for the worst-case scenario. This is about ensuring readiness before a threat becomes a crisis," Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio, OCD deputy administrator for operations, said. While the LPA has not yet intensified into a tropical cyclone and is projected to remain offshore, the OCD said this could change at any time.
The LPA is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall in some areas of Luzon, with the risk of localized flooding, particularly in Northern Luzon. As part of its proactive approach, the OCD said it continues to conduct round-the-clock monitoring of the weather system in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Warnings, bulletins, and advisories are being disseminated through multiple communication channels to prevent information gaps, the OCD said. Coordination with local government units is also ongoing, with instructions to prepare communities and activate local response plans as needed, it added.
The virtual EOC builds on earlier pre-disaster risk assessment (PDRA) scenario-building sessions, which informed the decision to raise the alert level of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center to "blue alert" as of July 2. The alert status ensures tighter coordination and a complement of uniformed personnel on duty to respond to any situation.
