THE Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Pampanga, chaired by Governor Delta Pineda, had ordered all local disaster risk reduction management offices in the province on standby in light of Tropical Storm Falcon.

This is to ensure all preparedness as well as precautionary measures are being undertaken and response resources are on standby for possible mobilization.

Disaster response units were also tasked to monitor coastal areas for possible increase of water level, and upland for possible landslides and flashfloods and implement pre-emptive or forced evacuation on all barangays that will likely be affected.

Meanwhile, classes in basic education in Angeles City were cancelled Wednesday, July 17, by the City Government of Angeles.

Falcon, the sixth tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year, has intensified into a tropical storm while moving westward, said the state weather bureau.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 may be raised over the northern portions of Aurora, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya and the rest of Abra, Mountain Province and Ifugao in the succeeding severe weather bulletins, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, advisory.

Between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon, July 18, “moderate to heavy rains may prevail over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley. Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over the Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa.”