THE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Friday placed its units in four Luzon regions in the path of Tropical Storm Jolina on a red alert status.
"Ang ating regional councils ay nakataas na ang red alert status sa Northern Luzon, Cordillera Administration Region, at Central Luzon, kasama na ang Bicol Region," NDRRMC spokesperson Mina Marasigan said.
The disaster official said blue alert status was raised in the National Operations Center in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
Marasigan said it is to ensure that all personnel in the said offices will render 24/7 duty to monitor the situation in their areas of jurisdiction and for their consistent coordination with other concerned government agencies including the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) , Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Bureau of Fire Protection, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard.
As part their preparation for the weather disturbance, NDRRMC Executive Director and Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad met on Friday with their member-agencies in Camp Aguinaldo, while those in the regional offices joined the meeting through Skype.
"Naka-alert na rin ang ating local response teams lalo na sa mga lugar na merong banta ng baha at pagguho ng lupa. 'Yung local DPWH nakastandby na kung may possible landslides, 'yung kanilang equipment nakahanda na sa pagsisiguro kung sakaling magkaroon ng insidente handa silang magsagawa ng clearing operations," Marasigan said.
Meanwhile, Marasigan urged the public to stay alert and to keep monitoring weather advisories.
"Everyone is strongly encouraged to stay at home and postpone any leisure and tourist activities especially in Northern Luzon until the tropical storm has ceased," she said.
In an update, Pagasa said Jolina was spotted 210 kilometers per hour (kph) southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum winds of 80 kph with gustiness of up to 95 kph.
It said Jolina is forecasted to move west northwest at 19 kph.
Pagasa said the weather disturbance is expected to make landfall Friday evening and it will affect the provinces in the Northern Luzon.
The weather bureau hoisted storm signal number two over the provinces of Isabela, Northern Aurora, Quirino, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Abra, La Union and Nueva Vizcaya.
Areas under storm signal number one are Cagayan, including Babuyan group of islands, Apayao, rest of Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Northern Quezon including Polillo island, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.
Due to stormy weather, brought by tropical storm "Jolina", some local government units in several northern Luzon provinces have declared class suspension Friday.
These are as follows:
* Isabela - all levels, public and private
* Quirino Province - pre-school to secondary, public and private
* Kalinga - pre-school to senior high school, public and private
* Ifugao - pre-school to senior high school, public and private
* Mountain Province - pre-school to senior high school, public and private
* Benguet - pre-school, public and private
The Manila Internal Airport Authority (MCIA) has also announced flight cancellations and delays due to bad weather. (SunStar Philippines)