MANILA—The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered the activation of disaster committees in areas that may be hit by Tropical Storm Chedeng, which slowed down even as it maintained its intensity while moving west northwestward.

“Isagawa na po natin ang lahat ng preparasyon at paghahanda habang maaga pa para masiguro natin ang kaligtasan ng mga residente,” DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo said Tuesday.

As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, Chedeng (international codename: Songda) was located 365 kilometers east of Catarman, Northen Samar, packing winds of up to 115 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 145 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services said.

It was moving west northwest at 13 kph and was forecast to be160 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes by Thursday morning.

Storm signal number 2 was hoisted over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte in the Bicol Region and the Samar provinces in Easter Visayas.

Signal number 1 was raised over Marinduque, Masbate, Burias Island, Ticao Island, Southern Quezon, Polilo Island and Biliran Island.

Robredo told the local executives to immediately convene their local disaster risk reduction management committees ahead of the storm’s estimated landfall Wednesday night.

Chedeng is expected to dump heavy rains in Luzon, parts of Visayas and Mindanao that may trigger flashfloods and landslides in low-lying areas, Pagasa warned.

Coastal villages along the storm’s path were also alerted against big waves or storm surges.

Robredo advised the affected provinces to coordinate with concerned government agencies and security forces and firm up their disaster plans.

“Sa ganitong panahon, inaasahan ko po na mamamayani ang pagtutulungan para maiwasan ang anumang sakuna na idudulot ng bagyong ito,” he said.

Chedeng is the third tropical storm to have entered the Philippines this year and the second for May. At least 18 more are expected to hit the country until December.