NegOr disaster council heightens alert on typhoon 'Pablo'
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec 4 (PIA) -- The Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) of Negros Oriental intensifies alert and prepares with its incident plan to lessen the impact of typhoon Pablo.
The disaster operation center located at the Aqua Center is now open 24-hour and will receive reports from the fields and dispatch advisories for immediate response, said Arnel Francisco,provincial administrator, in an emergency meeting.
As host province of the on-going Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) regional games, Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Salustiano Jimenez said the more than 10,000 athletes, coaches, chaperones, and officials from the 19 delegations in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor are advised to stay in their respective classrooms for safety measures, in case typhoon Pablo hit Negros Oriental.
However, Jimenez assured the delegates of the CVIRAA here in Dumaguete that the necessary precautionary measures are being undertaken to protect the athletes from any disasters.
PDRRMC earlier passed a resolution to use the five percent of the 70 percent calamity fund 2012 for the pre, during and post disaster activities.
The PDRRMC asked the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) to preposition the relief goods to make sure that food and nonfood items will be available for immediate relief operation.
Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office has alerted its team and police sa barangay to prepare in case of calamity for pre-emptive evacuation of residents from areas expected to be affected by disasters especially flash floods.
The PDRRMC asked the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) to stand by all mobile units for immediate dispatch especially during search and rescue, recovery, evacuation and relief operations.
Meantime, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP) or all radio station managers signified to willingly accept officials of PDRRMC who are on top of the situation to go on air or be interviewed for official source of information.
The search and rescue groups and civilian volunteers are now on standby and its life-saving equipment is available in any eventuality.
According to Coast Guard station, all trips from and to Cebu and Siquijor are cancelled as of this morning. (mbcn/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)
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Dumaguete to utilize brgy halls, churches as evacuation centers
By Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 4 (PIA) -- Barangay halls and churches in Dumaguete City will be utilized as evacuation centers for residents who will be affected by the typhoon Pablo that is expected to hit Dumaguete on today or Wednesday morning.
The city disaster risk reduction management council (CDRRMC) in an emergency meeting Monday agreed to utilize the churches and barangay halls as the designated evacuation centers since the schools are being used by athletes and coaches for the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVRAA).
Dumaguete City is currently the host of the annual CVRAA games.
Nearly 10,000 athletes and coaches from the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, and Siquijor arrived in the city earlier for the regional games which kicked off on Sunday.
Schools and their gymnasiums are currently the venues for the various sports events, and some are used as sleeping quarters for the players and coaches.
Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria led a team from the CDRRMC earlier today to inspect the barangay halls in the 30 villages in the city.
The team likewise inspected the border dikes in the coastal areas.
The barangays situated along the city’s coastal line are Piapi, Looc, Tinago, Calindagan, Mangnao, Banilad, and Bantayan.
The city hall’s session hall was transformed earlier into a command center for the city’s disaster operations in preparation for the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)