No casualty so far from typhoon ‘Egay,’ says Palace official

Philippine Red Cross La Union – San Fernando City Chapter Disaster and Emergency Response Team assisting families in the pre-emptive evacuation at Taboc, San Juan, La Union during the onslaught of Tropical Storm ‘Egay.’ (PRC / Facebook)

MANILA — Due to the effective coordination among national government agencies and local government units (LGUs), there has been no reported casualty so far from Typhoon Egay, a Palace official said on Monday.

“As Tropical Storm Egay continues to affect the northern parts of the country, our national agencies are hard at work, coordinating with provincial and local governments to minimize damages and ensure the smooth flow of relief, rescue, and support operations,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

“As a result of these coordinated efforts, there has so far been no reported casualties,” he said.

Secretary Lacierda noted that even before the storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had already alerted the public on its projected path.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has likewise directed the affected regions to intensify their precautionary initiatives and preparedness measures, he added.

Lacierda said the Department of Health has been coordinating with hospitals in anticipation of possible events, and has been prepositioning assorted medicines in its provincial offices, while the Department of Interior and Local Government has continued to advise concerned LGUs and has disseminated information about possible floods and landslides.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways has installed warning signs on flooded road sections and has deployed equipment and personnel for clearing operations.

Lacierda further said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development has readied an emergency fund amounting to PHO32.8 million and has prepositioned a stockpile of 288,540 family packs in Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Viscaya, and other geographically isolated areas.

The Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine Coast Guard are all on alert and have deployed teams for rescue operations, he said, noting that successful rescues have been carried out in several areas in La Union.

“We advise the public to stay calm and alert, and to keep updated on weather advisories by tuning in to government websites and media,” Lacierda said.

According to PAGASA, Tropical Storm Egay has slightly weakened and is slowly moving northward.

As of 10 a.m. on Monday, its center was at 155 km northwest of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte.

Public Storm Warning Signal Number 2 has been raised in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Abra; and Signal Number 1 in Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan group of islands, northwest of Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, La Union and Benguet.