MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) called on the public not to downplay the threats posed by the shear line and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), which continue to bring rains and weather disruptions across the country.
The shear line, a boundary where warm and cold air masses meet, creates rain clouds.
The ITCZ, where trade winds from both hemispheres converge, causes air to rise and results in heavy rainfall.
These systems have already caused significant damage, particularly in Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas and Davao regions, leading to five fatalities and two missing persons between Dec. 26, 2024, and January 2, 2025.
In a recent radio interview, OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno stressed the importance of heeding warnings from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and other relevant authorities.
“The public must not take these weather systems lightly, as they can be as destructive as typhoons,” Nepomuceno said.
He referred to the tragic flooding that claimed 43 lives in the Visayas and Mindanao in January 2023, caused by rainfall from the shear line.
Nepomuceno emphasized the need to ramp up preparedness efforts.
“Pagdating dito sa shear line, kailangan pa nating paangatin ang level ng paghahanda dahil parang nagkakagulatan po sa mga komunidad (When it comes to the shear line, we still need to intensify our level of preparedness so that communities are not caught off guard),” he said.
Nepomuceno also highlighted plans to improve coordination with PAGASA to ensure communities have sufficient time to prepare for severe weather.
While he acknowledged improvements in response efforts, the OCD chief also stressed the need for local government unit engagement.
Mitigation strategies, such as forced evacuations in high-risk areas, will be prioritized in 2025, he added.
“Naka-focus ho kasi tayo sa response, pero sa taong ito, mas bigyan natin ng konkretong solusyon ‘yung preparation part (We’re currently focused on response, but this year, let’s put more emphasis on preparation),” Nepomuceno said. (PNA)