AFP places all units in Luzon on ‘red alert’ for ‘Chedeng’

MANILA — Effective 1 p.m. Wednesday, all units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Luzon were placed on “red alert” in anticipation of the entry of typhoon “Chedeng” over Northern Luzon.

The units now on “red alert” are the AFP’s Northern Luzon Command, Southern Luzon Command, Central Luzon Command and Joint Task Force National Capital Region, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said.

All other Unified Commands of AFP are on “blue alert” as “Chedeng” is expected to enter Philippine Area of Responsibility by evening of Wednesday or early morning Thursday according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Catapang said the “red alert” status is in connection with the declaration made by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Wednesday morning.

The disaster response operations teams under the aforementioned major units were placed on standby to support the local government and the office of the Civil Defense for possible humanitarian and disaster relief missions in calamity-affected areas.