Palace assures aid for ‘Auring’ victims

MANILA – Malacañang on Sunday assured the public that immediate relief and assistance will be given to those affected by Tropical Storm Auring (international name “Dujuan”).

“We are closely monitoring Tropical Storm ‘Auring’ and the communities on its track. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and line government agencies have been providing relief and assistance to those affected,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

To date, Roque said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has relief stockpiles and standby funds amounting to PHP1,204,692,327 in its Central Office, Field Offices and National Resource Operations Center.

He said the Department of Health has also prepositioned a total of PHP19,508,368 worth of medicines, medical supplies, health kits in its Centers for Health Development.

Deployable response groups (DRGs) were also deployed by the Philippine Coast Guard in affected areas to assist in evacuation and /or rescue operations in coordination with the concerned local government units, he added.

Meanwhile, Roque urged the public to observe safety precautions.

“We ask the public, especially residents of affected areas, to remain vigilant, be prepared and ready for possible evacuation in case their local authorities advise them to do so as a precautionary measure,” he said.

He also advised the public to regularly check the latest weather advisories and other information related to Auring.

In its 2 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said moderate to heavy rain is expected over Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, and Camiguin.

Also expected are light to moderate with at times heavy rain over the Zamboanga Peninsula, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Quezon, and the rest of Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

Auring was last spotted at 320 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

The tropical storm was also monitored moving northwestward of Dinagat Islands-Eastern Samar-Leyte area at 15 kph.