RDRRMC-6 raises alert to Blue for ‘Basyang’

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-6) has raised its Operations Center alert status to Blue as Tropical Storm Basyang approaches parts of the country, placing response agencies on standby for possible deployment.

The alert level took effect at 8 a.m. on Feb. 5, following a virtual Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment and Scenario Building held the day before.

Under Blue status, all member agencies under the Response Cluster are directed to maintain readiness and coordinate closely as weather conditions evolve.

The preparedness meeting was presided over by Atty. Melissa Banias, chief of operations for the Office of Civil Defense–Western Visayas, representing RDRRMC-6 chairperson and OCD-6 regional director Raul E. Fernandez.

Banias said the council is intensifying coordination efforts to ensure a timely and efficient response should the situation escalate.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-6) reported that a total of PHP 143.5 million worth of standby assistance has been prepositioned across the region.

This includes PHP 3 million in standby funds, 132,635 family food packs (FFPs), and 23,419 ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes, along with more than PHP 32 million worth of non-food items strategically stored in key locations.

DSWD-6 Disaster Response Management Division Project Development Officer III Claud Jan Marquez said most of the supplies have been distributed to 69 local government units, accounting for 109,680 FFPs and 3,949 RTEF boxes.

Based on the department’s Predictive Analysis for Humanitarian Response, approximately 509 families or 2,543 individuals in the southern part of Antique may be affected by the storm.

Meanwhile, the National Irrigation Administration said clearing and desilting operations are ongoing to address potential impacts of heavy rainfall.

It added that dams and river irrigation systems in Western Visayas remain at normal water levels.

The DOST-PAGASA Iloilo Radar Station reported that Basyang is expected to make landfall over eastern Mindanao between Thursday evening and Friday morning before crossing Western Visayas on Feb. 6.

The system is forecast to weaken into a low-pressure area as it exits the Philippine landmass, though the northeast monsoon may influence its track.

As of the latest assessment, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau said no areas in Western Visayas are currently flagged as highly susceptible to rain-induced landslides or flooding, but monitoring efforts continue.

RDRRMC-6 continues to advise local government units and residents to remain vigilant, monitor official weather updates, and prepare for possible rain-related hazards, especially in vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities. (With a report from the Philippine Information Agency–Western Visayas)