CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has heightened disaster preparedness and coordination efforts across Central Luzon while urging residents to remain vigilant and heed government advisories as the southwest monsoon (Habagat) continues to bring intermittent rains in the region.
OCD Region 3 Planning Officer Raymond Emilie Garcia said the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has activated preparedness measures and continues to closely coordinate with local government units to ensure a timely response to weather-related incidents.
“We continue to monitor our coastal areas and communities susceptible to rain-induced landslides. The RDRRMC has already issued preparedness measures for any eventuality,” Garcia said.
To strengthen coordination, the OCD remains connected with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Virtual Emergency Operations Center (EOC) while operating the RDRRMC Virtual EOC to facilitate faster communication and information sharing with local government units throughout Central Luzon.
As part of preventive measures, the Philippine Coast Guard has imposed a province-wide suspension of sea voyages and tourism activities in Aurora, Bataan, and Zambales until further notice to ensure the safety of passengers, fisherfolk, and other sea travelers.
Local government units have likewise suspended classes in 79 cities and municipalities across the region as a precaution against the effects of the continuing rains.
Garcia said Central Luzon is currently experiencing generally cloudy skies to light rains based on reports from provinces and highly urbanized cities.
Although Tropical Cyclone Luis has weakened into a low-pressure area (LPA), its earlier enhancement of the southwest monsoon brought heavy rains that affected several communities.
As of 11:00 AM on August 4, the OCD recorded 1,677 affected families, equivalent to 6,364 individuals, from 28 barangays in Aurora and Nueva Ecija. Flooding also persisted in 26 barangays—19 in Nueva Ecija, six in Pampanga, and one in Tarlac—while the Sagana Bridge in Laur, Nueva Ecija remained impassable to all types of vehicles due to flooding.
Despite the weakening of Tropical Cyclone Luis, Garcia said another LPA within the Philippine Area of Responsibility continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, underscoring the need for communities to remain alert.
With this, he reminded the public to closely monitor weather bulletins issued by PAGASA and other science-based government agencies, such as the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and to immediately comply with evacuation directives issued by local officials.
“If local government officials tell us to evacuate—whether it is a forced evacuation or a preemptive evacuation—we should follow them because they know what should be done in our communities,” Garcia said.
He also encouraged every household to prepare an emergency go bag containing food, drinking water, clothing, medicines, maintenance drugs, and a first aid kit that can sustain family members for at least three days.
“We should always have go bags that can sustain us for three days so that if the bad weather continues, we can survive for the next three days,” Garcia said.
He stressed that disaster preparedness begins at home, noting that staying informed through official government advisories and preparing ahead of emergencies can help protect lives and reduce the risks posed by severe weather. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
