Palma, MCDCB laud fast Ruby response

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has lauded both government and the public in mitigating the ill effects of typhoon Ruby in Cebu.

Palma said authorities have maximized all available means in spreading information and caution that alerted residents, especially in critical areas or those prone to flooding, landslide and even storm surge.

“Wala sila nagkulang sa pagapahibaw sa mga tawo kabahin sa bagyo, unsay angay’ng buhaton, asa muadto. Naghatag ni’g kumpyansa sa mga tawo nga guided sila,” Palma said.

Alongside this, he re-cognized that cooperation on the part of the public has contributed largely to the positive results in the efforts of the local government units.

“Misunod ang kataw-han sa sulti sa gobyerno nga mag-evacuate ug uban pang angay buhaton,” he said, adding, “Makaingon kita nga mas preparado kita karon kumpara sa panahon sa Yolanda.”

Like Palma, Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) co-chairman Roberto Aboitiz also lauded response efforts of the local government units, saying mayors have seen to it “that their constituents are at the top of their plans.”

“They are more focused on what they need to do,” Aboitiz said.

Dominica Chua, RAFI chief operating officer, led the RAFI assessment teams in checking northern Cebu. She said she personally saw how the towns and the city of Bogo coped with the typhoon.

“Even though it was a Sunday (December 7), it was like a work day in the city, municipal halls, which served as command posts and with the mayors overseeing all.  I even spoke with one who said he was not able to go home yet because of the preparations,” she said.

Chua said the mayors took control of the command centers and saw to it that all preparations were being carried out and all measures were being observed, including the stockpiling and distribution of food and other items at the evacuation centers.

“The people felt the presence of the government and their sense of confidence and hope rose,” Chua noted, having visited numerous evacuation centers identified by the local government units.

Authorities chiefly cited the preemptive evacuations LGU implemented as the reason why the number of casualties was very minimal.

Chua said that having seen the positive effects of good preparation, disaster preparedness should be institutionalized not only by the LGUs but in respective homes.

“A change of mindset is very important, to be prepared rather than complacent, knowing that this (stronger typhoons) is now the new normal.  We must make disaster preparedness and readiness part of our culture; because as you can see, it made the difference,” she said.

This year, RAFI, through the Eduardo Aboitiz Studies Center, held a series of fora discussing readiness for the “new normal,” especially on building disaster-resilient communities and infrastructures, assessing risks, and understanding vulnerabilities.

The sessions were aimed at increasing awareness of the public and key leaders of Cebu towards making more informed decisions regarding better preparation for disasters, both in terms of physical and social infrastructure; improving response, management, and rehabilitation of disaster-affected areas; and recent trends and new strategies and approaches towards disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation applicable in the Philippine context.

Also, Chua said RAFI is eyeing at extending help in Samar, particularly Borongan, which is worst hit by typhoon Ruby.

She said the foundation saw that the Cebu LGUs are capable of handling the situation in their respective jurisdictions. – (FREEMAN)