MANILA — Health emergency response teams are on standby and ready for deployment in preparation for typhoon “Ompong,” the Department of Health (DOH) said in its report to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Thursday.
DOH said it also issued health advisories and prepositioned assorted medicines in the provinces or regions that will be affected by the typhoon.
The DOH has reported a total of PHP42 million amount of logistics available at the DOH central office and a total of PHP19 million prepositioned logistics available from the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), MIMAROPA and National Capital Region.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) said about 7.7 million learners are estimated to be affected by “Ompong.”
During NDRRMC’s command conference, DepEd said it has suspended classes on Friday in all levels in 19,704 schools, both public and private, in the Cordillera Administrative Region, National Capital Region, Ilocos region to Calabarzon, Bicol to Zamboanga, and Caraga.
Aside from monitoring regions and divisions with class suspensions, DepEd said it will coordinate with local government units for local inter-agency actions to be taken and monitor the schools that will be used as evacuation centers.
“Ompong” has accelerated and slightly shifted its movement but continue to pose a threat to northern Luzon.
In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Ompong” was last spotted 575 km. east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes.
“Ompong” is now moving west northwest at a speed of 25 km. per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 205 kph and gusts of up to 255 kph. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA)
