MANILA, Philippines — At least 7,500 families have been affected by Tropical Storm Crising as of 9 a.m. Friday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.

During a Malacañang press briefing, OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo stated that reports of affected families originated from Mimaropa, Regions 6, 7, and 12.

While Crising is expected to make landfall in Mainland Cagayan, Castillo said the entire country should prepare as the tropical storm also strengthens the southwest monsoon (locally known as habagat).

“What we are really monitoring is the amount of rain the habagat will bring, which could cause flooding and landslides,” he said in Filipino.

Castillo added that preemptive evacuations began Thursday in several affected areas, particularly in Regions 1, 2, and 3.

The tropical storm was last spotted 135 kilometers east northeast of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, according to the 2 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“Crising will continue to intensify until it reaches Severe Tropical Storm category by tomorrow morning or afternoon,” the state weather bureau said.

It added Crising is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon.

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected the preparation of relief goods at the Department of Social Welfare and Development National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City.

Three million boxes of family food packs have already been prepared in 934 storage hubs across the country, Palace press officer Claire Castro said Friday, citing a report from the DSWD.

“The wrapping of food packs continues at the NROC in Pasay City and the Visayas Disaster Resource Center or VDRC in Cebu,” Casto said in Filipino. /mr