MALACAÑANG advised the public on Monday, January 21, to remain vigilant and get ready as the country braces for the impact of Tropical Depression "Amang."
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the government has sufficient funds and relief supplies in preparation for the onslaught of Amang.
He asked the public, especially those who will be affected by the tropical depression to check weather updates from concerned government offices.
"We ask the public, especially residents who will be affected, to stay vigilant, monitor the latest weather advisory in their respective areas through government stations and social media accounts," the Palace official said in a statement.
"And [they should also] coordinate with their local disaster and risk reduction management offices for the appropriate and responsive action," he added.
Amang has changed course and is now heading toward Leyte, according to the 8 a.m. weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Moving northwest at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), the typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gusts of up to 60 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 was hoisted over Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Bohol, Northern Cebu, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands.
Amang was expected to bring moderate to heavy rains in Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, and Bicol Region, Pagasa said.
Panelo said the government is prepared and closely monitoring the tropical depression.
"We are closely monitoring Tropical Depression Amang. All concerned disaster-related agencies are now on standby," he said.
Panelo noted that a total of 2,678 families or 11,153 individuals in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Eastern Samar, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur had already been pre-emptively evacuated.
He added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development had already prepositioned some 2,500 family food packs amounting to P912,750 in a warehouse in Surigao City. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)