AN additional casualty has been recorded out of Storm Dante as the Philippine National Police has placed on full alert its disaster response units in the forecasted track of the storm, which state weather bureau Pagasa said would intensify in the next days.
A report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the casualty was reported in South Cotabato while another person was also missing following the rains that began over the weekend and affected Mindanao, especially Regions 11 and 12.
Incidents of flooding and landslides were also reported in the affected regions where local officials are under order to implement preemptive evacuation if necessary as the government works to mitigate the impact of the storm.
PLDT-smart preps for storm
Meanwhile, telco PLDT and Smart deployed quick response teams as Tropical Storm Dante threatens to make landfall over Eastern Samar or Leyte.
They announced late Tuesday they have also prepositioned generator sets and satellite phones, extending communication aid to responders in areas that are on the path of the storm.
Relief goods have been packed and are ready to be sent to heavily affected communities, once the storm passes.
PLDT and Smart are also ready to deploy Libreng Charging (free charging), Libreng Tawag (free call), Libreng WiFi (free wifi) stations in distressed communities as aid in communication for affected residents.
On Tuesday, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 over Catanduanes, southern portion of Camarines Sur, Masbate, Albay, and Sorsogon in Luzon, Eastern Samar , Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte in the Visayas, and Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands in Mindanao.
Other deaths validated
On Monday, two persons were also killed due to Dante in Region 11, but the NDRRMC said the deaths along with the latest case were still being validated if they are storm-related.
PNP chief General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar ordered police offices, especially those in Eastern and Northern Samar, to coordinate with the local government units and the local offices of the Office of Civil Defense to determine the specific assistance they could extend amid tropical storm Dante’s threat.
“I am placing all concerned police offices and units on full alert to guarantee the availability of assets, resources and personnel for possible disaster response operations in areas threatened by Dante,” Eleazar said.
The local police were also tasked to ensure order and the observance of minimum public health safety standards once evacuees are brought to the different evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, Eleazar ordered the activation of the Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) in case there is a need to augment forces in calamity-stricken areas.
Eleazar urged the public to keep safe and remain alert amid the storm. He also urged residents to follow the instructions of authorities when it comes to evacuation.
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