Stay safe at home and pray – Palace

The government has urged the public to stay safe at home and pray as the country braces for typhoon “Ompong” that may become a super typhoon.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government has readied funds and relief supplies in preparation for the storm but has also asked the public to stay vigilant.

“We are reminding the public to stay alert and safe,” Roque said during a Palace news conference.

“To our countrymen who have nothing to do outdoors, just stay in their houses and not venture outside for their safety. Let's pray for everyone's safety,” he added.

Roque encouraged Filipinos to keep tabs on storm updates from the government and know the evacuation plans in their area

He said they should also prepare their disaster supply kit including food, water, portable radio, flashlight and first-aid supplies.

“Let's avoid low-lying areas, river banks, cliffs, and mountains,” he said.

The Department of Interior and Local Government, meanwhile, ordered mayors to stand guard in their respective local government units (LGUs) and aim for zero casualty.

DILG Officer-In-Charge Eduardo Año said that local chief executives must be present in their respective territories as chairpersons of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to ensure immediate government response once the typhoon strikes.

“Those who fail to show up and remain absent when Ompong rakes through the country will be sanctioned by the Department,” he warned.

According to the DILG chief, the DILG is also aiming for zero casualty.

“We have been forewarned as early as last week that ‘Ompong’ is no ordinary typhoon and is similar to ‘Yolanda.’ Let us brace our communities and urge our people to also make the necessary preparations for their families. Being a resilient people, let’s aim for zero casualty,” Año added.

Oplan ‘Listo’ DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said that LGUs must have already made preparations recommended in the Department’s Oplan “Listo.”

“Execution of tasks must be made in haste and efficiency to minimize damages and casualties,” Malaya said.

DILG's OplanListo recommends three critical preparedness actions that LGUs must take such as Alpha for low risk areas, Bravo for mediumrisk areas, and Charlie for high-risk areas.

Upon receiving alert of the storm, LGUs must prepare the resources, supplies, equipment and relief goods needed around 48 hours prior to landfall, Malaya explained.

LGUs must also standby equipment and deploy teams for security, medical, clearing, evacuation, relief distribution, and communication needs.

According to Malaya, LGUs must send rescue and medical teams to highly vulnerable areas during and after the disaster.

They must also secure power, water supply and communications, patrol areas, and standby for clearing operations.

“We must already be 'listo' (alert) at this time. We must gear up and prepare for the worst as typhoon Ompong continues to rake through the country,” he said.

P800-M standby funds Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has ready over P800 million standby funds to respond to the needs of those who will be affected by the weather disturbance.

With this, the DSWD Central Office, Field Offices, and National Resource Operations Center (NROC) already have stockpiles of aids, and standby funds available.

As of now, DSWD has a total of P872,003,147 standby funds to ensure its readiness in responding to the possible effects of the strong typhoon.

A total of 356,349 family food packs (FFPs) amounting to P118,947,645.65 and available food and non-food items worth to P710,825,555 have also been readied by the Department.

Undersecretary Hope Hervilla of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said they already prepositioned these goods in all regions while additional aids were provided to Region 2 Field Office which will be affected by the typhoon.

The DSWD transported on Tuesday additional goods, including 5,000 family food packs, 1,000 hygiene kits; 1,000 family kits, and 1,000 sleeping kits.

Aside from the kits, Hervilla said that nearby regions are also ready to provide augmentation support in case more relief goods will be needed by the affected regions.