NDRRMC on red alert for 'Vinta'; P84-M relief fund readied

MANILA, Philippines - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday went on red alert as it prepares for Tropical Storm "Vinta," which was forecast to make landfall over Cagayan in the afternoon.

"The NDRRMC Operations Center is on red alert status to continuously monitor and disseminate weather forecasts to all [regional units]," the disaster response agency said in its bulletin on Thursday morning.

It said that it has already directed its regional counterparts to alert the provincial and municipal authorities where the storm is expected to hit.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allocated almost P84 million worth of relief goods for the residents who would be affected by the storm.

The agency said that of the fund, P11.3 million will be spent on 42,000 food packs and P71 million will be used for other items readily available for the affected population.

The NDRRMC also reported that the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Cordillera Autonomous Region has prepositioned several heavy equipment for the possible clearing of roads that may be blocked by possible landslides.

The heavy equipment include 13 dump trucks, six pay loaders, seven road graders, an excavator and and roller.

Public storm signal number 3 has been raised over Cagayan and Apayao provinces while signal number 2 is hoisted over the Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands, Kalinga, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Mt. Province.

Public storm signal number 1 is now hoisted over La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Aurora, and the Batanes Group of Islands.