(File photo) LEGAZPI CITY - The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Bicol has placed all disaster response offices on red alert status to prepare for the impending threat of the low-pressure area (LPA) and tropical depression that is still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of 3 p.m. Friday. In a memorandum issued on Friday, Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Bicol regional director Claudio Yucot, also the Bicol DRRMC chairperson, said raising the alert status from blue to red was arrived at after the presentation of key agencies, led by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), during the regional and national pre-disaster risk assessment online meeting. "We encourage all agencies to prepare for any eventualities. In my five years as regional chairperson of the RDRRMC, this is the first time that there will be a weather disturbance like this during Holy Week. That is why we need to prepare our local government units and communities," Yucot said. Gremil Naz, OCD Bicol spokesperson, said in an interview that red alert is the highest level of coordination and monitoring among stakeholders. "Under red alert, there will be activation of the response clusters in the region, leading of evacuation for residents living in high-risk areas by the local DRRM councils, communication of weather-related advisories to the community level by the provincial DRRM councils and LDRRMCs, and reiteration of social behaviors and hygiene measures in evacuation centers and response activities in relation to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and close monitoring of areas of responsibilities by the LDRRMC chairperson," Naz explained. The Department of Social Welfare Development in Bicol (DWSD-5) likewise reported that 25,218 Family Food Packs (FFPs) amounting to PHP12,503,458.94 are available at its warehouse, on top of a standby fund of PHP5 million. Non-food items are available such as family tents, sleeping kits, family kits, hygiene kits, kitchen kits, malong (wrap-around garment), laminated sacks, blankets, folding, beds, water containers, and outdoor tents amounting to PHP26.7 million, the DSWD-5 report read. (PNA) }