22-07-2025
DILG to mayors: Impose forced evacuation if necessary amid Habagat
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday urged concerned mayors to implement forced evacuation when necessary to ensure the safety of their residents from the impact of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat.
In a statement, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also asked local government units (LGUs) to prioritize vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
The LGUs have to coordinate with their respective Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for relief distribution from the national government, he added.
Remulla reminded concerned mayors to always observe Operation L!STO Protocols to guide them on critical measures and actions to take in response to the impact of the bad weather.
The Interior and Local Government Secretary also called on all affected residents to heed the advice of local authorities and promptly relocate to designated evacuation centers or safe areas.
Citing a weather advisory from PAGASA, the DILG said the Habagat will bring moderate to intense rains of up to 200 mm within the next few days in several areas in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, and the Negros Island Region.
The DILG warned of possible flooding areas that are urbanized, low-lying, and near rivers. Landslides may also happen in moderate to highly susceptible areas, it added.
Six people were reported dead due to Tropical Cyclone Crising, Habagat, and the low pressure area (LPA), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday.
A total of 1,266,322 individuals or 362,465 families were affected by the bad weather in all regions in the country except for Eastern Visayas.
Floods, landslides, collapsed structures, and tornadoes were reported in the affected areas. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
