PBBM orders warnings for storm surge vulnerable communities

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered agencies and local government units to specifically warn communities vulnerable to storm surges, noting their potentially fatal impact.

He stressed the need for clear advisories, recalling the lessons from Super Typhoon Yolanda where the term "storm surge" was not well understood by the public.

The President directed the creation of a storm surge risk map to identify vulnerable areas, emphasizing the need for quick generation.

Marcos suggested evacuation to locations at least five meters higher than an expected three-meter storm surge.

This directive comes as Tropical Cyclone Pepito threatens to cause a moderate to high risk of storm surge, with PAGASA warning of up to three-meter surges in southeastern Quezon, Bicol, and parts of Samar.

The provinces of Quezon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar may experience 2.1 meters to 3 meters of storm surges.

Several regions in Luzon and Visayas were already told to pre-emptively evacuate their residents starting Friday due to the threat by Pepito, which may reach a super typhoon category.