Fishermen attend to their fishing boats before heading out to sea at the Barangay Bagong Bayan in Navotas City on October 21, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA (UPDATED) — The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Tuesday activated the "Charlie" protocol—the highest level of emergency preparedness—in seven regions in response to the potential impacts of tropical storm "Kristine."

The regions under this protocol include the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas — all of which are identified as high-risk areas in the event of an emergency.

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OCD spokesperson Director Edgard Posadas said a preemptive and even forced evacuation may be implemented in areas classified as "Charlie," along with the mobilization of rapid response teams, and the provision of additional resources, among other measures.

All personnel and officials are to be on standby in "Charlie" areas.

"Nakikita natin na doon sa mga concerned regional offices diyan, mas mataas 'yong risk, mas marami kaming dapat bantayan dahil mas prone ito sa consequences like flooding, landslides, displacement, and the like," Posadas said.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Kristine was located 390 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour, with gusts of up to 90 kph.

Signal No. 2 was raised over Bicol provinces and parts of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar, while Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, central Luzon, Cagayan Valley region, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and the rest of Bicol region.

Ilocos Region and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were put under the "Bravo" protocol, indicating a moderate risk, while the National Capital Region, Western and Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninunsula, Soccsksargen, Nortern Mindanao, and Caraga, are classified under the "Alpha" protocol, representing a low risk. Davao was assessed as having no to very low risk.

Posadas said the whole country is likely to be affected by the typhoon.

"Halos the whole of Luzon, the whole of eastern Visayas and two provinces in Mindanao are covered by the tropical cyclone signal number 1 in effect. So, basically, if you look at it, talagang buong Pilipinas and even bago makalapit itong bagyong ito, meron na tayong pagbaha sa Mindanao, sa Visayas, and even here sa Luzon," Posadas said.

"Malawak 'yong kaulapan, 'yong kanyang cloudiness, talagang malaki."

The Department of Social Welfare and Development projects that approximately 33,531,886 individuals could be affected by Kristine.

Additionally, the number of barangays vulnerable to landslides and floods has risen to 21,213, according to the latest report from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

According to PAGASA, Kristine will move generally northwestward until it makes landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora Wednesday night or Thursday early morning.

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