#Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO)

[carlocarrasco]

Las Piñas City Mayor expresses thanks to local rescuers and volunteers who worked during Typhoon Kristine

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Mayor Imelda Aguilar expressed her thanks to the local rescuers and volunteers who took part in helping almost five hundred families whose lives were severely disrupted by Typhoon Kristine, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface… Las…

[thebaronmunchausen]

#NegrosNeedsHelp

Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office 📢(DRRMO) 📲(034) 432-3879 /709-1633

📢EMERGENCY 911 HOTLINE 📲(034) 432-3871 to 73

📢Amity 📲(034) 433-3244

📢Chamber 📲(034) 432-0111

📢Red Cross 📲(034) 435-0324

- Fire - 📢Bureau of Fire Protection Bacolod 📲(034) 434-5022 / 23

📢VICTORIAS CITY RESCUE OFFICE 📲09216224397 📲09155210316

📢PNP VICTORIAS 📲09985987454 📲09399647454

📢EB MAGALONA MDRRMO 📲09491231923 📲09453187403

📢SILAY CITY DRRM 📲09184896175

📢TALISAY DRRM 📲(034)712-60-74 📲(034)495-41-52

📢RADIANT 📲0999-086-4555

📢BFP TALISAY 📲(034) 495-65-98

[onenettvchannel]

THIS JUST IN: An Elementary School in Dumaguete City was caught on Fire [#RadyoBanderaEXCLUSIVE]

DUMAGUETE, NEGROS ORIENTAL --  Four local classrooms of West City Elementary School (WCES) were totally destroyed in the fire that hits the center above, next to the outside exit gate in San Jose Extension of Brgy. Taclobo, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental last Wednesday afternoon (August 31st, 2022). The fire was recently reported around 4:30pm (Dumaguete local time) where the members of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) quickly responded the said fire incident with the help of its members of the staff of Perpetual Help Community Cooperative Inc. (PHCCI) used their own fire hydrants, hoses and extinguishers.

In a radio report between Radyo Bandera and Power91 DYGB-FM, a utility room of Special Education (SPED) and a classroom of Grade 4 & Kindergarten were now totally burned as one first responder per BFP who sawed the fire started as of this moment. Roswell Ramirez fully disclosed the fire which immediately after the class was dismissed before the actual fire incident happened.

Fire Arson Investigator and FO2 named Janrey Aguilar revealed that they received the alarm at 4:33pm. Twelve minutes later at 4:45pm, the fire currently under control and later extinguished in an instant before 5pm. According to Marketing Specialist at the said department of PHCCI named Carl Sumanoy, it is known that they used their two big fire hoses and hydrants in the cooperative to heavily spew the water out above the classrooms that were on fire.

Kindergarten Teacher named Jun Cadiz was involved the said classroom that she didn't really know because the fire started affects some of its middle school which is also next to the classroom. Classroom Janitor named Rowena Basnillo also said that suddenly she saw the same thing, resulting they were not being able to get out of the things within the few minutes before the dismissal time.

Ryan Rey Villera, one of the teachers in Grade 4 reveals that the oiled-based paint is a serious fire hazard in connection above the overheated wall fan was resulted the cause inside the utility room, as according to our scientific research team with Lisa Loud (Student Professor of Royal Woods Elementary School and our Stringer Correspondent of Nickelodeon News -- per Michigan news affiliate of OneNETnews). Grade Level Chairman of Grade 4 and Master Teacher named Merinel Divino said the adjacent rooms spread quickly like wildfires in their middle.

The essential paintings of Brigada Eskwela will use as an annual renovation in all of its public and private schools nationwide in our country before the classes started for students to learn and educate before graduation.

School Governance Operations Division Head named Dr. Nelson Caday was responded quickly from the Dumaguete City DepEd Division to assess the damage caused by the fire. Dr. Caday is the engineer and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) coordinator of DCDD. The cost of damages caused by the fire is estimated at PHP50,000 (or nearly U$D900). No one was injured in the incident as of this writing.

For now, the fire department of Dumaguete City was now currently investigating the fire from last Wednesday afternoon.

SCREENGRAB COURTESY: Jeffrey Azcarraga BACKGROUND PROVIDED BY: Tegna

SOURCE: *https://www.facebook.com/100000782761388/posts/1157703988114581 [Referenced FB Video from Jeffrey Azcarraga] *https://www.facebook.com/103181099047424/posts/158820136816853 [Referenced FB Article Post from RBSFM: Dumaguete] *https://www.facebook.com/161378392688016/posts/1705725119796739 [Referenced FB LIVE Video from Bhoy Jubane Pilonggo of RBSFM: Dumaguete] *https://www.facebook.com/103181099047424/posts/1143107589885299 [Referenced FB Video from RBSFM: Dumaguete - City Councilor named Rey Lyndon] *https://www.facebook.com/103181099047424/posts/596872881915717 [Referenced FB Video from RBSFM: Dumaguete - BFP DGTE FO2 named Janrey Aguilar] *https://www.facebook.com/100063770387140/posts/595666325371188 [Referenced FB Video News Item from Power91 Pamahaw Balita - Sep12022] and *https://www.facebook.com/100514235029542/posts/1054284951955320 [Referenced FB Video from West City Elementary School - Brigada Eskwela 2022]

-- OneNETnews Team

[phgq]

Bacolod City ‘most prepared’ for Covid-19 vaccine rollout

#PHnews: Bacolod City ‘most prepared’ for Covid-19 vaccine rollout

ILOILO CITY – The highly urbanized city of Bacolod got the highest score among provincial and city governments in Western Visayas that have already submitted their coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination plan to the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH-6).

The provinces of Iloilo and Capiz and Iloilo City have also submitted the hard copy of their vaccination plans, Dr. Mary Jane Roches Juanico, head of the DOH-Western Visayas infectious disease cluster, said on Wednesday afternoon.

“We have ongoing review and readiness assessment. As of yesterday (Tuesday, Feb 23), among areas in Region 6 (Western Visayas) with the highest readiness is Bacolod City at 75.9 percent, Capiz, 53.4; and Iloilo province at 43 percent,” she said in a virtual presser.

Their readiness is rated based on thematic areas to include planning, budgeting, prioritization and targeting, system capacity for handling cold chain, logistics and ancillary supplies for covid-19, service delivery capacity, surveillance response, and demand generation activity.

She added that local governments “struggle” in terms of demand generation and prioritization, and targeting.

Currently ongoing is the master listing and conduct of activities to increase demand generation.

“We acknowledge that in the recent surveys conducted by various partners we have the high vaccine hesitancy not only from the general public but as well from our eligible priority population. In this part, our current focus is our health care workers who are our eligible priority population for the Covid-19 vaccination,” she said.

Juanico said it is important for health care workers to understand the need and benefits of being immunized.

Among the strategies they would employ are the conduct of series of town hall meetings with health care facilities and partners as well as consult various groups.

They would also gather testimonials of Ilonggo health workers in foreign countries who have already availed of the Covid-19 vaccine.

“We have started coordinating with groups, especially those residing in the US and Europe, especially in the United Kingdom, Ilonggo nurses and physicians working abroad to testify as regard to effects of the vaccination,” she said.

Meanwhile, health education and promotion officer Darlene de la Peña said they engaged the support of their counterparts at the city and municipal levels, information officers, disaster risk reduction and management officers (DRRMOs), and barangay representatives for the demand generation campaign.

“At this time we already initiated our social mobilization and demand generation activities to let the people understand the benefit of this Covid-19 vaccination program,” she explained.

She said the demand generation drive aims for the general public to “understand and feel confident in the government’s approach to roll-out our Covid-19 vaccines in the country” as well as for Filipinos to “rely on government platforms as the authoritative source of information for Covid-19 vaccines”.

Meantime, Juanico said that as of now, they don’t have information as to when the vaccine will be downloaded to regional offices. (PNA)

  ***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. " Bacolod City ‘most prepared’ for Covid-19 vaccine rollout." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131821 (accessed February 25, 2021 at 09:50PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. " Bacolod City ‘most prepared’ for Covid-19 vaccine rollout." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131821 (archived).

[kcms]

Smile, the worst is yet to come.

 Last Saturday, I finally had the opportunity to return to my hometown of Rodriguez, Rizal to learn more about my community’s current disaster situation and risk reduction management.

If it weren’t for this endeavor, my return home wouldn’t be as productive than it normally would. I really enjoyed my time home previously when I learned about our barangay parish, San Jose Manggagawa Parish Church, aptly named after our patron saint of the same name. I grew up in Barangay San Jose, which has been my home for twelve years, before I had to move places to pursue my education in Metro Manila.

Unknown to many, Barangay San Jose is geographically wide, covering a total land area of 10.45 km2 (403.58 mi2). This makes it the most densely populated barangay in Rodriguez accordingly, with a population of 182,427, accounting for a third of the total population of our municipality. According to the official Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (BDRRM) plan for 2019, Barangay San Jose is characterized by sprawling mountains and plains, scattered hot springs and lakes and the Marikina River stretching across Metro Manila and to the Laguna de Bay which finds its source from the waters of Montalban Gorge, located in the southern mountains of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Both factors pose as considerable problems towards preparing the barangay for disasters. 

For this assignment, I had the opportunity to talk with Mr. David Bernabe, Team Leader for Search and Rescue Operations of Barangay San Jose Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (BDRRMO) who shared with us 

According to him, the barangay normally experiences the occasional typhoons during the monsoon season from the later first half to the year to the earlier first half of the next year. Depending on the amount of rainfall and wind speeds, these typhoons would bring about high waters and flooding in low-lying areas of the barangay, such as lower Sabah in San Jose Proper and IK2 in Kasiglahan. He compared these areas to that of Bangkok, Thailand, pointing out its proximity to the Marikina River, where its source comes from the Wawa Dam in Rodriguez.  Whenever water rises from the river and winds are strong and turbulent, which displaces the water to nearby houses and deluges them in seconds.

Apart from this, he added that San Jose is a hotspot for tremors and earthquakes as it sits right in the cradle of two fault lines traversing beyond the National Capital Region, the East and West Valley Faults. While the East Valley Fault stretches 10 kilometers, the longer West Valley Fault sprawls 100 kilometers, and crosses paths with homes, establishments and institutions across the metro. In the barangay alone, it crosses residential areas such as Suburban and Tagumpay Villages, Christineville Subdivision, in front of mountainous Forest Lawn Cemetery, through intersections and roads, Hilltop Abatex and finally through Quezon City. The East Valley Fault crosses the neighboring town of San Mateo, and heading to Marikina City in the National Capital Region. 

According to him, whenever there are expected disasters, the BDRRMO not only follow television, radio and online updates from trusted sources, but we receive 

We implement an early warning system in our barangay as well, where we receive and respond on weather updates released by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA). When the first alarm is raised, our concerned officials and constituents from the municipal DRRMO closely monitor low-lying areas in our barangay as well as across entire Rodriguez. 

Second alarm, be ready in case typhoon reaches landfall

Normally we prepare for typhoons by spearheading drills, hosting seminars, teach first-aid to families for disaster preparedness

First responders, medic and rescuers in case of emergency response

Third alarm, forced evacuation for residents in low-lying areas

Finally, when we reached the third and final alarm, we conduct force evacuations in communities living in low-lying areas

Whenever people have to be rescued from flooded areas in the barangay and be brought to higher ground, the nearest school and its covered court can serve as a temporary evacuation center where they can stay until it is considered safe for them to return to their homes by our very own barangay search and rescue operations unit. We make sure to issue a Memorandum of Agreement to different schools in Barangay San Jose beforehand in formality to receive permission to use their facilities during typhoons.

Apart from school buildings and covered courts that served as evacuation centers during typhoons, which Mr. Bernabe showed us around at San Jose Elementary and National High Schools, large open fields such as the Montalban Sports Complex here in San Jose Proper and that of Kasiglahan are are assigned as evacuation areas for when earthquakes hit Barangay San Jose. For the longest time that I have lived in Barangay San Jose, there is always a common denominator to the lay-out of schools and institutions of learning throughout Rodriguez, but at least for San Jose, buildings are within a reach of an open field where people can retreat in case of earthquakes. While not every school in Rodriguez has an open field near them, there would always be a covered court instead. 

During times of disaster, our barangay post normally serves an emergency operations center. Whenever there are areas experiencing flooding, there are established barangay annexes that becomes incident command post to establish proper communication from the barangay proper to the immediate responders deployed in the mentioned areas. When asked if they have encountered any problems that inhibited them from developing disaster preparedness in the barangay, he and his team hasn’t experienced anything critical thus far other than a deficit of goods during relief distribution and families who refuse cooperating during rescue operations amid rising water levels.

Business, schools, jobs, needs are deficit. But local government provides their needs as much as they can

When asked about how the typical situation is in Barangay San Jose plays after a disaster, 

* Multi-strategic plansIdea

To end the interview, of course, I had to take pictures with the man of the hour. A huge thanks to Mr. David Bernabe for sharing with me Barangay San Jose’s current disaster situation and risk reduction management and showing us around the barangay to assess its capacities and identify vulnerabilities as well. Before I left, he laughingly brought up that I was the third student from UST to inquire about the same exact matter at hand, which I found truly funny.

[eswaydieniway-blog]

B-Alert! : Our Community’s Role in Disaster Preparedness

December 08, 2019

“No matter how cliché, but prevention will always be better than cure.”

                                                                                             -F. Guidote, 2019

Last week, November 30, 2019, I personally walked around our barangay and went to our community’ Disaster Risk Reduction Office. I got the chance to have a conversation with Sir Felix Guidote, one of the team leaders in the office. From there, I learned and realized various points with regards to the importance of disaster readiness of the community.

BARANGAY POBLACION. These are photos taken while going in the community. There are big spaces where people could go and there are signage which leads to the evacuation are. But then, electric wires improperly hanged are evidently seen.

So, let’s start with the basics.

Background

I live in Baliwag in the Province of Bulacan. Baliwag lies on the northern part of Bulacan and has a total land area of 45.05km2. Geographically, we are in a plain in terms of land form. In addition, according to the local government’s data, the municipality has a lesser possibility of flood considering its density of 3 300 km2 and a highest elevation of 23m. However, some parts, like some areas in Brgy. Poblacion where I live, reside beside a riverbank. In this riverbank lies homes of various families.

THE MAP OF BALIWAG. Baliwag has 27 barangays and is one of the 21 municipalities of Bulacan. (Photo retrieved from: Best Trading Platform)

Over the years, the one of the biggest natural disasters that affect Baliwag is typhoon. Come in late 1970s when the town’s center was heavily flooded.

Walking and looking through the barangay, various signs of nearest evacuation centers, either basketball court or schools, are evident. Furthermore, painted on walls and posts are flood warnings. The local municipality also keeps the streets and sidewalks clean and free from unwanted trashes which could later affect the people.

GROUNDS. Clean and neat environment in Baliwag. Trees are planted and maintained. On the walls are flooding marks as a reminder to people.

Community Preparedness

As part of the Risk Reduction and Management, Brgy. Poblacion has a BDRRMO or Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. This is under the MDRRMO or Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

In the interview, “Dati, MDRRMO lang ang mayroon tayo. Pero ilang taon pa lang ang nakararaan, nakita natin ‘yong pangangailangan ng BDRRMO kung kaya’t binuo ito.”

RESPONSE. One of the roles of the Barangay Risk Reduction Management Office is to response to the emergency needs of the community, not only of natural calamities but also man-made error or events.

“Ang BDRRMO, sila ‘yong mga unang rumiresponde bago ang MDRRMO. Kung kaya nila, sila na ang magre-rescue, pero kapag hindi nila kaya, tatawag na sila sa MDRRMO,” Sir Felix said.

A HAND IN HELP. One of the roles of the BDRRMO is to be an living extension of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office even to various schools and local businesses and/or establishments. 

“Aside sa rescue, kasama rin natin sila sa pagbibigay ng awareness at drills sa mga paaralan at iba’t ibang establisyimento sa ating mga barangay. Marami rin tayong mga pamamaraan para ipaabot sa mga tao ang serbisyong kailangan nila,” when asked about the role of the barangay unit.

DISASTER SIMULATIONS AND DRILLS. Even in the barangay, regular disaster simulations and drills are done and exemplified for the safety of the townsmen.

However, according to the interview with the Risk Reduction Team Leader, “Sa barangay, medyo kulang talaga ‘yong mga equipment o gamit nila r’on. Mas basic ‘yong mga nasa kanila kung ikukumpara sa materials na mayroon ang MDRRMO.”

As follows are the tools located in the Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Office which are not all available in the Barangay Risk Reduction and Management Office:

EQUIPMENT. Some of these important equipment are not present in the office of the barangay units.

TOOLS. These are also some of the materials which are limited in the local office.

With Baliwag having 27 barangays in total, each having BDRRMO, local government could not fund every barangay. Therefore, the condition is if they want to add or accumulate more equipment and tools, they must raise the fund themselves before the local government does.

Overview

Risks like typhoons and more will never be inevitable. In every situation of a small community lies what it is in a bigger picture. Therefore, government made a good move with enacting a law which emphasizes the role of a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO). Given the fact that the Philippines resides in the Pacific Ring of Fire, we are also disaster prone due to our archipelagic form. Lives, businesses, and properties are affected when calamities come. But then, like every other laws in the country, this must have a cost with a certain budget.

As per in the interview, it is a good thing that the BDRRMOs has a communication channel through radio patrols with the MDRRMO so they could respond easily. They should keep this up because due to budget constraint, resources become somehow limited. However, it is really making me happy that through this disaster preparedness management, communities, not only in our barangay or municipality, but also with other towns are helping each other, lending hands to help. Truly, the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ never left. On the other hand, I hope that the same can be seen in other municipalities. I, myself, understands that not all local government units have the capability to provide for such.

At the end, we, as citizens, are never left bare handed with the call of responsibility. Through knowledge, awareness, volunteerism, and more, we could become the smallest unit of life-savers.  We should always be ready to respond if ever there are such happenings. We could donate materials, if we have the capacity or help in establishing fund-raising projects for our local disaster risk reduction and management office. With the government, they must continue to train citizens to become alert and empowered. It is good to continuously conduct training and activities which they are doing right now. That is why we should B-Alert!

The following photos are taken during the interview:

EVACUATION GUIDE. A guide posted in the emergency response team’s office.

STRATEGY WALL. A strategic information board with regards to the what’s, do’s and don’t’s in disaster risks, hazards, and vulnerabilities.

ALPHA. A set of guidelines for disaster preparation.

CHARLIE. Another guide for community rescuers in post.

Aside from these, each of the barangays in Baliwag has their own ambulance/s available for the need of the people.

AMBULANCE. An ambulance in the disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Some barangays are also aiming to have their own firetruck/s.

FIRETRUCK. A firetruck in the local office.

Finally,

INTERVIEW. A picture with Sir Felix as I interview him.

______________________________________________________________

HOTLINES

Baliwag MDRRMO: +63 44 798 0391 loc 7827

Official Website of Baliwag: https://www.baliwag.gov.ph/about-baliwag/geography-nature/

by:  Sydney Anne O. Gagui, L-ACCT-1

NSTP 2/3

[worldnewsph]

Tagalog News: Motorcade, panimulang aktibidad ng Fire Prevention Month sa Bulacan

Tagalog News: Motorcade, panimulang aktibidad ng Fire Prevention Month sa Bulacan

Isang motorcade ang nagsilbing hudyat ng pagsisimula ng selebrasyon ng Fire Prevention Month sa Bulacan. (Bulacan PPAO)

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS, Mar 7 (PIA) — Isang motorcade ang nagsilbing hudyat ng pagsisimula ng selebrasyon ng Fire Prevention Month sa Bulacan.

Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office o DRRMO Head Felicisima Mungcal na ang…

[carlocarrasco]

Sharp donates equipment to Las Piñas City Government

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, , Sharp Philippines Corporation met with Mayor Imelda Aguilar and formally donated several pieces of laundry equipment to the City Government at City Hall, according to the official announcement via social media. The equipment will be deployed in various evacuation centers across the city. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City…

[carlocarrasco]

Las Piñas City Vice Mayor and officials visit Typhoon Carina victims at evacuation sites

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Vice Mayor April Aguilar and some local officials took time out to visit evacuation sites which served as temporary places of relief for locals whose lives were disrupted by Typhoon Carina, the City Government revealed through social media. While the typhoon has since left the country, many people who suffered from flooding, strong winds and excessive rain are…

[carlocarrasco]

Las Piñas City gains recognition for exceptional disaster risk management

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government announced that it was recognized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for outstanding performance in local disaster risk management. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt the City Government’s social media post dated January 26. Some parts in boldface… The City of Las Piñas has been…

[carlocarrasco]

Las Piñas City employees receive CPR training

In Las Piñas City, employees at city hall received training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to prepare themselves how to respond properly during emergencies, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface… The Las Piñas Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO)…

[carlocarrasco]

2-day Mandatory Training for Newly Elected SK Officials of Las Piñas City Completed

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the mandatory training for newly elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials of the city was completed at the Mayor Nene Aguilar Multipurpose Hall of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) Building in BF Resort Village, Barangay Talon Dos, the City Government revealed through its official Facebook page. This happened just weeks after the…

[carlocarrasco]

Muntinlupa City Government achieves “Beyond Compliant” award for disaster risk reduction

Muntinlupa City Government achieves “Beyond Compliant” award for disaster risk reduction

The City Government of Muntinlupa scored another achievement, this time it is achieving the highest “Beyond Compliant” award (related to disaster risk and management) at the prestigious Gawad Kalasag Seal for Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and Offices (LDRRMCOs), according to a Manila Bulletin news report. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the…

[flippinflipnews]

Pangasinan DRRMO on high alert this Holy Week

Pangasinan DRRMO on high alert this Holy Week

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is in full force as its alert status has been raised to "red" in line with the observance of Holy Week.

During the forum "Tongtongan ed PIA" hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on Wednesday, PDRRMO operations officer Vincent Chu said 14 water search and rescue members were deployed to monitor the Lingayen Beach where tourists are expected to flock starting April 14.

“Two teams were also on standby for 24 hours daily in case there will a need to augment or assist the local government units,” he said.

He added their water assets such as boats as well as land assets such as ambulances and trucks are ready.

“We advised the barangay officials especially their barangay peacekeeping action teams to be activated and deployed in rivers or tourist areas in their localities to ensure the safety of the people,” he said.

Chu assured that the water search and rescue teams in the barangays were trained in basic life support, rescue, and first aid.

He added that there are incident command posts composed of PDRRMO, Provincial Health Office, and members of the Philippine National Police at the Lingayen Beach area and the capitol grounds.

The Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) is also on heightened alert and augmented its forces for the observance of Holy Week and the rest of the summer vacation this year.

In a recent interview, PPPO information officer, Maj. Katelyn Awingan said the provincial command has issued guidelines to all the chiefs of police in the province to ensure a peaceful and orderly Lent observance.

Awingan said police personnel from all stations in the province will monitor places of worship as well as other areas of convergence, such as tourist destinations and bus terminals.

“Nagkaroon tayo ng augmentation force mula sa ating mobile force company at sa ating mga force multipliers sa mga barangay para mabantayan ang mga lugar na pupuntahan ng ating mga kababayan (We had augmentation force from the mobile force company and other force multipliers in the barangays to monitor areas where people will visit),” she said. (PNA)

  #FlippinFlipNews

[phgq]

NegOr still on alert despite 'Auring' shifting track

#PHnews: NegOr still on alert despite 'Auring' shifting track

DUMAGUETE CITY – The provincial government of Negros Oriental and the different local government units (LGUS) through their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMOs) continue to remain alert even as Tropical Depression Auring has changed its path, veering away from most of the Visayas region.

Adrian Sedillo, executive officer of the Provincial DRRMO, in an interview Monday said only a few “insignificant” events in relation to “Auring” were reported in the province on Sunday through initial reports from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) showed that the tropical depression was tracked to be moving towards the Visayas from Mindanao.

Sedillo said “Auring”, the first typhoon to hit the country this year, is unpredictable and its movements kept changing since it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday last week.

He said it became stationary for about two days over Mindanao before making its way across the country.

"Auring" made landfall on Monday over Batag Island in Northern Samar.

Although not directly in the path of the typhoon, Negros Oriental was inundated by rains on Sunday due to the storm’s huge cloud band, Sedillo said.

Negros Oriental was among the areas that the state weather bureau placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over the weekend but it was lifted at noon following the 11 a.m. weather advisory from PAGASA.

In its incident report, the PDRRMO said flooding was reported in Barangay Banilad here, and power outages in some parts of this capital city.

The Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative II (NORECO II) on Sunday evening scrambled to restore power in the Banilad-Bajumpandan and nearby areas after a fallen pole cut off power supply to many households.

Electricity was restored the following day.

Sedillo said many of the province’s major rivers and waterways swelled due to heavy rains.

Philippine Coast Guard-Dumaguete commander Jannsen Benjamin said sea travel was suspended over the weekend but resumed Monday afternoon following the lifting of the weather bureau’s storm signal. (PNA)

  ***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "NegOr still on alert despite 'Auring' shifting track." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131457 (accessed February 23, 2021 at 02:07AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "NegOr still on alert despite 'Auring' shifting track." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131457 (archived).

[phgq]

Antique PDRRMO braces for ‘Auring’

#PHnews: Antique PDRRMO braces for ‘Auring’

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, ANTIQUE – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and their counterparts at the municipal level are on standby in case Tropical Storm Auring will traverse the province.

 Antique PDRRMO officer Broderick Train said they are now prepositioning their personnel and assets in the towns of Barbaza and Libertad in the north of the province.

 “Our local counterparts the municipal DRRMO and the barangay DRRMO are also now on standby level and ready to respond to eventualities,” he said in an interview Sunday.

 Train said with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placing some portions of Iloilo and Capiz under Signal No. 1, they are advising the public to also be ready for possible adverse conditions in Antique, especially in the northern part.

 “As of now, we are still experiencing cloudy to partly cloudy atmosphere but we have to be ready late this afternoon or in the evening,” he said.

 Train added the PDRMMO has fully activated its 18 personnel who are now in Libertad, Barbaza and at the PDRRMO Operation Center in San Jose de Buenavista.

 He said that so far, they have not yet conducted any preemptive evacuation among the families in landslide-prone areas or other susceptible places, but they are only informing them to be on alert.

 “We are still sending information, education and communication (IEC) to the families just to be ready,” he said.

 Train further said operation centers of Barangay DRRMOs have been activated for the next 24 hours.

 Barangay DRRMOs are expected to be the first responders in case there will be families to be evacuated Sunday night or the next day, he added. (PNA)

   ***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Antique PDRRMO braces for ‘Auring’." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131408 (accessed February 22, 2021 at 03:55AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Antique PDRRMO braces for ‘Auring’." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131408 (archived).