Chiong calls for zero casualty during disasters

CEBU, Philippines – Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong challenged city officials, including department heads and barangay executives, to aim for zero casualty during calamities, especially in the coming and succeeding typhoons that will hit the province.

This was his call during the first quarterly meeting of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council whose primary objectives now is negating the impact of typhoon and achieving zero casualty.

Chiong said city and barangay officials must carry out their responsibilities and, if necessary, be physically present, to ensure better services and efficient response to the needs of the evacuees, typhoon victims and rescue teams during calamity-response operations.

"The public must be more aware of disaster risks in their midst and we must do something to protect lives and property way ahead of any typhoon and other natural hazards," Chiong added.

City Councilor Carmelino Cruz Jr. stressed the importance of immediately evacuating the residents living along riverbanks, shorelines and in landslide or flood-prone areas to public schools designated as evacuation centers.

Cruz Jr. is the chairman of the City Council Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation and the current officer-designate of CDRRM.

He also asked the Bureau of Fire and Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to back up the local police in conducting forced evacuation to prevent injuries, loss of lives and properties.

During the meeting, the importance of the information campaign on disaster preparedness as well as post-disaster inspection of structures affected by the storm was also discussed.