Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, on Friday directed all police officers in Eastern Visayas to brace for the possible effects of Tropical Depression Maring.
“I have placed our personnel in the Police Regional Office 8 and nearby areas on standby as their assistance may be required by our local government units in the region, particularly in the evacuation of residents in flood-prone or landslide-prone areas,” he said in a statement.
Eleazar also tasked nearby police regional offices to be on standby in case their assistance is needed due to possible effects of “Maring” in the provinces as there might be a need to evacuate affected residents.
The PNP chief also directed police officers to also monitor the forecasts being released by weather agency PAGASA so they could track the weather disturbance and conduct preemptive evacuations if necessary.
As of 11 a.m. Friday, PAGASA said “Maring” has slightly intensified while it remains erratic over the Philippine Sea.
It packs maximum sustained winds of up to 55 km. per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph. It is moving southwestward at 15 kph.
There is no Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal currently in effect over provinces, PAGASA added.
Eastern Visayas would experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains due to the trough of the tropical depression.
Source: Philippines News Agency
