Track and intensity forecast of Severe Tropical Storm Leon as of October 28, 2024. Courtesy of DOST / Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chairman Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. has ordered the immediate implementation of forced and mandatory evacuation of residents in communities forecast to be affected by Severe Tropical Storm Leon (international name: Kong-rey).

The NDRRMC said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) already received the directive and issued a memorandum mandating local government units nationwide to comply. 

“This measure is very crucial to save lives. Being proactive will save lives; it’s better to take action now than to regret later and lose lives,” Teodoro said in a statement on Monday. 

“Let’s continue to be proactive, especially with Bicol’s current situation where several towns and cities still remain under water. We always aim for zero casualty in the event of disasters, so we strongly urge the public to heed our protocols,” Teodoro said.  

The NDRRMC added that  local chief executives are expected to execute Teodoro’s directive pursuant to the Republic Act 10121 and the Local Government Code. 

The state weather bureau earlier reported that Leon was last spotted some725 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela moving west-northwest at 15 kilometers per hour. 

This development prompted the weather agency to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals over parts of Luzon and the Visayas.

Office of the Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno meantime said that communities battered by Severet Tropical Storm Kristine have already received family food packs, hygiene kits, and other aid from the government. 

Kristine exited the Philippine area of responsibility over the weekend and has affected over six million persons nationwide, according to the NDRRMC.

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