OCD ramps up response as habagat, TD Crising threaten large parts of Phl

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said it has intensified preparedness measures to mitigate the impacts of the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) and Tropical Depression (TD) “Crising” currently within the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

In a phone interview on Thursday, OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said all operations centers of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) have been placed on red alert status.

“Which means that all of our response agencies are already equipped with our prepositions, our personnel, our response equipment, all of these are already equipped,” he said.

Castillo also noted that the OCD is actively working with local government units (LGUs) and relevant agencies to boost coordination and emergency response.

As of 3 AM on July 17, Crising was located 530 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gusts of up to 70 km/h.

TD Crising is moving west-northwestward and is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm within the day.

Landfall is forecast by Friday night over the northern part of Cagayan or Isabela, with the cyclone projected to cross Northern Luzon through Saturday and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Sunday.

TD Crising is likely to bring heavy rainfall, which may trigger flooding and landslides, particularly in vulnerable and low-lying areas.

The cyclone is also expected to enhance the habagat, bringing widespread rains to Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao. Metro Manila is forecast to be under yellow rainfall alert by tomorrow.

The alert status at the NDRRMC was raised from blue to red effective 12 noon on 17 July 2025.

OCD urged the public to stay alert, monitor official weather bulletins, and follow local advisories, especially in landslide- and flood-prone areas.