NDRRMC still on high alert for Tropical Storm Marce

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) remained on heightened alert as Tropical Storm Marce entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday.

NDRRMC chairperson and Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said concerned agencies are closely monitoring the situation with Marce, according to report of Unang Balita.

At the same time, the NDRRMC is adding food and non-food relief items for victims of recent tropical cyclones Kristine and Leon.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the government’s priority now is to help the victims of calamities.

Marcos vowed to strengthen the local disaster risk reduction and response considering the country’s high risk to the effects of climate change.

At 4 a.m. Monday, the center of Marce (international name: Yinxing) was estimated to be located at 935 km east of Eastern Visayas, state weather bureau PAGASA said

Marce has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 1002 hPa.

It is moving west northwestward at 25 km/h.

PAGASA said it has not raised any Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) at this time. However, TCWS No. 1 may be raised over parts of Cagayan by Tuesday. The highest TCWS that may be raised as Marce passes is TCWS No. 4.

Marce may reach severe tropical storm category by Tuesday morning or afternoon, and typhoon category by Tuesday evening or Wednesday early morning. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA Integrated News