OCD raises caution vs. shear line effects

MANILA – Residents in areas affected by the shear line should stay alert and not be complacent of its possible effects, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.

In a statement Tuesday, OCD chief Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno cited as example the landslide and flooding caused by the shear line in the Visayas and Mindanao that killed 43 people in January last year.

He reminded the public to heed to the warnings of weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-OCD and other government agencies.

“As we engage in worst-case scenario planning, it is crucial for everyone to heed the warnings regarding the current weather systems affecting our regions,” Nepomuceno said. “Ang ating kaligtasan ay nakasalalay sa ating kooperasyon at pagiging alerto (Our safety depends on our cooperation and alertness).”

He said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau identified 1,632 barangays across 14 provinces in Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Luzon as susceptible to rain-induced landslides and flooding.

The shear line will bring scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms over Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Cagayan Valley.

As of 5 a.m., PAGASA said heavy to intense rains are forecast in Cagayan and Isabela provinces. (PNA)

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