ILOILO CITY, July 24 -- Preparations and coordination for the effects of the southwest monsoon, intensified by Tropical Storm Kiyapo (international name Noul), have been stepped up after the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 6 (Western Visayas) raised its emergency operations center to blue alert status at 8 a.m. Friday.

RDRRMC-6 Chair Raul Fernandez, through Memorandum Order 59-A issued early Friday, moved the activation of the alert level earlier than the original schedule of 5 p.m. due to "latest weather developments affecting Western Visayas."

"The adjustment is necessitated by the updated weather forecast indicating that moderate to heavy rains are expected to affect portions of the region earlier tha...