Government ready to address ‘Auring’ aftermath

MALACANANG assured Friday that concerned government agencies are prepared and in control of the situation in areas hit by Tropical Storm “Auring.”

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) is currently on red alert status as heavy rains brought by the storm flooded several areas in Palawan.

Storm signal number 2 is hoisted over Southern Palawan while the rest of the province is under signal number 1.

Aside from Palawan, preemptive evacuation was also conducted in Valencia City, Bukidnon and Dipolog City, where about 800 families were moved to safer grounds.

Some 130 families from the towns of Quezon and Bataraza in Palawan were also evacuated, according to the NDRRMC.

Valte said small fishing vessels are still advised not to sail until the weather improves.

Meanwhile, the Palace official said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has P481,842.38 of standby funds and P1.33 million worth of relief supplies in the Mimaropa Region.

“So naka-preposition na po, at nag-aantay po ang ating mga Quick Response Teams para po sumaklolo at umalalay doon sa mga mangangailangan,” she said.

“Hopefully, our preemptive measures will hold and will be adequate to meet any of the effects of the tropical storm,” Valte added.

Auring, the first storm to enter the Philippines in 2013, made landfall over the southern tip of Palawan early Friday. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday afternoon. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)