NDRRMC on 'blue alert' for 'Nando'

MANILA, Philippines - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Monday placed its operations center at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on "blue alert" for Tropical Depression "Nando."

As of 4 a.m., the cyclone's center was estimated at 560 kilometers east of Baler town in Aurora province packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour.

The cyclone was moving north northwest at a speed of 15 kph.

Weather bureau PAGASA said that Bicol region, Calabarzon and Aurora will experience moderate to heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

It added that Metro Manila, Quirino, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Visayas provinces, Zamboanga Peninsula, Caraga and Northern Mindanao will experience light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

The NDRRMC said that in preparation for the Philippines' 14th cyclone, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already prepositioned P86.9 million worth of emergency relief resources.

The fund includes P10.37 million standby fund, P35.43 million worth of family food packs and non-food items worth P40.8 million.

The disaster response agency also said that its regional operations center in Bicol has also been placed on "blue alert."