The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) will maintain its current "Red Alert" status despite the exit of Tropical Depression Crising over the weekend, Edniel Parrosa reported.
In an interview with DZRH on Sunday, OCD Officer-in-Charge Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro explained that a new Low Pressure Area (LPA) is approaching the country, which could enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat" and bring more rains.
As of 2 a.m. Monday, the LPA was last spotted over the eastern part of Southeastern Luzon and is already inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Although the LPA has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone, Alejandro warned that it may intensify rainfall over areas where the ground is already saturated—particularly communities previously affected by Crising.
"Tuloy-tuloy ang pag-ulan, magkakaroon lang siguro tayo ng isa o dalawang araw tapos babalik na naman 'yung ulan. Kami, tuloy-tuloy pa rin siguro ang red alert," Alejandro said.
"Ibig sabihin habang nagre-recover tayo kay Crising, tuloy-tuloy naman ang preparasyon natin dito sa parating [na LPA]," he added.
The Red Alert status means that emergency operations remain in full force, with the OCD and other government agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), maintaining heightened coordination for immediate disaster response.
Meanwhile, the latest official report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) recorded four deaths linked to Tropical Depression Crising, with one confirmed fatality and three still undergoing verification.
