MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Thursday called on local executives to make the necessary preparations and take proactive steps as tropical depression "Queenie" hits Visayas.
"All LGUs (local government units) should standby for the latest updates regarding the coming storm," Roxas said.
Areas placed under signal number one include Palawan, Calamian Group of Islands, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Southern Cebu Including Cebu City, Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental, Siquijor Guimaras Island, Iloilo, Antique, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Province, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, and Zamboanga del Norte.
"In any case, local chief executives should have been already active by now in preparing their first response. Mahirap yung nalilito tayo," Roxas said.
Authorities also advised local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils to initiate pre-emptive evacuation, especially for communities considered to be highly vulnerable.