NDRRMC on alert for Tropical Depression Crising

MANILA, Philippines - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council  (NDRRMC) yesterday placed its operation center on blue alert as Tropical Depression Crising headed for landfall in Samar. 

Crising slightly weakened as it moved closer to Samar, NDRRMC executive director and Office of Civil Defense administration head Ricardo Jalad said.

But NDRRMC declared a blue alert as it expected Crising to bring moderate to heavy rains within the 250-kilometer diameter east of the Visayas.

The weather disturbance was to make landfall east of Giuan, Eastern Samar yesterday afternoon.

The NDRRMC said under blue alert, various disaster response teams – from the military, police, Bureau of Fire and coast guard – are on standby for possible deployment.

The council has been issuing weather bulletins and advisories to regional, city and municipal disaster teams for quick response if something happens.

4,525 stranded

Some 4,525 people were stranded yesterday at ports in Bicol due to Crising.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) stopped ships and boats from sailing at noon yesterday so as not to compromise the safety of passengers.

There were 2,007 passengers stranded in Central Visayas; 929 in Bicol; 1,067 in Eastern Visayas and 522 passengers in Western Visayas, the PCG reported.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said considering the prevailing bad weather affecting various parts of the country today, they ordered ships and boats to stay put.

“We cannot do anything about it. Let us wait for the PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) to lower storm warning signals in their area before passengers are allowed to travel,” Balilo said.

Under PCG regulations, when Signal No. 1 is hoisted, vessels of 1,000 gross tons or below will not be allowed to sail, except to take shelter.

The movement of vessels above 1,000 gross tons, however, is left to the discretion of the ship owner and master when Signal No. 1 is up, the PCG said.

Vessels of any tonnage are not allowed to sail, except to take shelter, when Signal No. 2 or higher signal is hoisted within areas covered by storm, it said.

Crising may weaken

The weather bureau said Crising was to make landfall over Hernani, Eastern Samar yesterday and might weaken into a low-pressure area.

Its center was estimated at 50 kilometers east southeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar.

In a bulletin issued at 5 p.m. yesterday, PAGASA said Crising would bring moderate to heavy rains within is 150-km diameter.

Maximum winds are expected at 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, with gustiness of up to 62 kph.

The tropical depression is expected to move west-northwest at 17 kph.

Crising is expected to be at 15 kms north-northeast of Roxas City, Capiz today. – With Evelyn Macairan, Rhodina Villanueva, Celso Amo