NDRRMC: Typhoon 'Pedring' will not be like 'Ondoy'

As Tropical Storm Pedring intensified into a typhoon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) assured the public that Pedring will not be like the deadly tropical cyclone "Ondoy," whose second anniversary was being marked on Monday. NDRRMC head Benito Ramos said, "Ngayon ang anniversary ng 'Ondoy'; nakapwesto ang responder mula Bicol at Regions 3 at 2. Ang line government agencies nakahanda na rin." Disaster response units are now in place in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Bicol for "Pedring," Ramos said in an interview over radio dzXL. Before noon on Monday, state weather forecasters said 40 areas, including Metro Manila, were placed under storm signals after Tropical Storm Pedring (international name: Nesat) intensified into a typhoon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed 26 areas under Storm Signal No. 1 and 14 other areas under Storm Signal No. 2. PAGASA also said Pedring moved a little faster and may make landfall over northern Luzon Tuesday morning. PAGASA estimated 15 to 25 millimeter per hour of rainfall within the 650-kilometer (km) diameter of Pedring. Cyclone Ondoy According to GMA News Research, typhoon Ondoy, the 15th tropical cyclone to enter the country in 2009, left 464 people dead, 529 people injured, and 11 persons were also missing because of the typhoon. Ondoy affected 986, 825 families (or 4,846,417 persons). The October 30, 2009 report of the NDRRMC showed that: