MALASIQUI: Pangasinan's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) chief, retired Col. Rhodyn Luchinvar Oro, on Monday called on the local disaster risk reduction and management offices (LDRRMOs) to prepare for the impact of Severe Tropical Storm Carina. 'We expect that in the coming two or three days, we will be experiencing heavy rainfall so I ask that we prepare, especially the members of the councils and the first responders,' he said in his speech during the flag-raising ceremony. This was after the Ilocos Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council - Emergency Operations Center (RDRRMC1-EOC) on Sunday raised the alert status to red and the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) protocol to Charlie in preparation for the effects of the weather disturbance. The red alert status is activated when there is an imminent emergency situation and requires the highest level of monitoring, coordination, and reporting. Charlie EPR protocol, meanwhile, indicates high risk. T hese decisions were made based on the reports of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Mines and Geosciences Bureau. According to PAGASA's 11 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the center of the severe tropical storm was estimated at 340 km. east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, and was moving northwestward at 15 kph. While it is not seen to make landfall in the country, it is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon. Relatively, the Department of Social Welfare and Development 1 (Ilocos) has prepared 42,872 family food packages and 21,692 non-food items for the relief operations. Non-food items included family kits (3,689), sleeping kits (3,833), hygiene kits (6,695), and kitchen kits (5,627). A total of PHP86.75 million was allocated for the food and non-food items and standby fund. Source: Philippines News Agency