Gov't on high alert as PAGASA expects Crising to intensify

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has ordered all government agencies to implement proactive measures as the state weather bureau expects tropical depression Crising to intensify into a severe tropical storm by Saturday.

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In a press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said concerned agencies are now on high alert as they conduct pre-disaster risk assessments at the President's directive.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday afternoon declared a red alert status, requiring duty officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police to render duty at its operations center in Quezon City.

Technical staff from other agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA), Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, among others, are also called to gather at the operations center.

Crising was spotted at 335 kilometers northeast of Virac in Catanduanes or 545 km east of Baler, Aurora, as of 4 p.m., PAGASA said in a 5 p.m. report.