Gov't agencies brace for effects of 'Nando'

Government agencies have stepped up preparations with Super Typhoon “Nando” threatening to unleash heavy rains and powerful winds across Luzon and nearby regions.

- By MARTIN SADONGDONG and AARON RECUENCO

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), together with its 44 member-agencies, has been placed on red alert status since Sept. 19 in preparation for Nando.

“As the highest level of alert, our mandate is to deploy and provide resources to all local government units (LGUs) and other agencies in need, and to facilitate immediate interagency coordination to anticipate needs before, during, and after the emergency,” he said in a press conference at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC), Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Sunday, Sept. 21.

“We are reminding everyone not to be complacent. Although our focus is on Northern Luzon, specifically Regions 1 (Ilocos Region), 2 (Cagayan Valley), and CAR (Cordillera Administrative Regon), areas in Central Luzon (Region 3) down to Bicol (Region 5) must also prepare because, according to PAGASA, the typhoon will surely draw in the southwest monsoon (habagat). So we still need to prepare and issue guidance for them to take preemptive measures,” he added.