Bicol RDRRMC placed on red alert due to approaching LPA

LEGAZPI CITY – The Bicol Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) was placed under red alert status on Friday, October 23, in preparation for a low pressure area (LPA) that could threaten the region and even become a tropical depression.

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol spokesperson Gremil Naz said that, since the red alert was raised, all response agencies were now on standby for any possible call-up for deployment of assets and resources to those areas might be affected.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the LPA located east of Mindanao could develop into tropical depression as it heads towards the Bicol region.

And if it maintains that track, PAGASA said it would be named “Quinta”, and may make landfall in Bicol region on Monday.

In Albay province, the Provincial disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) convened Friday noon as part of the preparation to mitigate the impact of the weather disturbance.

An advisory was issued Friday noon by Albay governor Al Francis Bichara, which ordered a “no-sailing policy” in place.

Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) Chief Dr. Cedric Daep said that they were already planning for three possible scenarios in case winds strengthen later this weekend.

Among the scenarios were preparations for flood, landslide and mudflow.

He said that online classes and work may be suspended on Monday if the weather disturbance intensifies into a storm.