'Crising' nears, may intensify today; Palace readies agencies

President Marcos has ordered emergency and frontline agencies to heightened readiness as Tropical Depression Crising is expected to intensify into a severe tropical storm today, July 18.

- By ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS and MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Thursday, July 17, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast Crising to make landfall in mainland Cagayan between Friday evening, July 18, and early Saturday morning, July 19. It threatens areas along its path with heavy rains, strong winds, and coastal inundation.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center raised Blue Alert Status as early as July 16, 11 a.m., triggering round-the-clock manning and pre-disaster risk assessment activities.

"The Virtual Emergency Operations Center was also activated as early as July 16," she added.

Agencies now on alert include PAGASA, which provides continuous monitoring and updated forecasts.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was tasked to cascade guidance to local governments, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) pre-positioned relief stocks.

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, PAGASA said the center of Crising was estimated at 520 km east-northeast of Juban, Sorsogon, or 470 km eastnortheast of Virac, Catanduanes.