The Philippine National Police (PNP) is on alert to aid in possible response efforts as Tropical Depression Wilma approaches the country’s landmass.
Wilma was last seen 170 kilometers (km) east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) 8 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin.
‘Our personnel on the ground were already alerted and they are ready,’ Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on Friday.
‘Coordination will be done with concerned local government units and agencies for public safety that include preemptive evacuation and prepositioning of mobility and rescue assets,’ he added.
Wilma is projected to make landfall over Eastern Visayas on Saturday and traverse the region until Sunday.
The tropical depression was moving westward slowly while packing maximum sustained winds of up to 45 km per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 55 kph.
Twenty-three areas across the country have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1, which warns of strong winds between 39 and 61 kilometers per hour (kph) in the next 36 hours, posing minimal to minor threat to life and property