PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is in “constant communication” with heads of concerned government agencies, as he “closely” monitors Tropical Depression (TD) Maymay, Malacañang said Wednesday.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is closely monitoring the latest weather disturbance, Tropical Depression ‘Maymay,’ as it may enter the country’s area of responsibility on Thursday, Oct. 13,” Press Secretary officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil said in a press statement.

Marcos, Garafil said, is also keeping in touch with concerned Cabinet secretaries, including Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, to check the government’s preparations and readiness for the latest weather disturbance.

“The President is in constant communication with concerned cabinet secretaries, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development which is currently pre-positioning relief goods in the form of family food packs in known evacuation centers in the areas that will be affected by TD ‘Maymay,’” she said.

Garafil said the Office of the President is calling on concerned local government units (LGUs) to make the necessary preparations, including preemptive evacuations in flood-prone areas.

Maymay is now moving westward while maintaining its strength, according to the 5 p.m. weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

It was last spotted 180 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was hoisted over the eastern portion of Isabela (San Mariano, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, San Agustin, Palanan, Divilacan, Jones, Maconacon, Tumauini, Echague, Cabagan), the eastern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan, Aglipay, Saguday), and the northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dilasag, Dipaculao).

Strong breeze to near-gale strength winds may be experienced in areas placed under TCWS 1.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also be felt in Cagayan, the northern portion of Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao until early Thursday morning, PAGASA said.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may also prevail in Ilocos Region, and the rest of Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are expected in areas that are “highly or very highly susceptible” to the hazard areas identified in hazard maps and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall.

Maymay is forecast to continue moving generally westward towards the eastern coast of Isabela or Aurora.

It is expected to deteriorate into a remnant low within the next 12 hours. By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos / Philippine News Agency