Guv wants better disaster readiness

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) is pushing for intensified disaster preparedness efforts in local government units (LGUs).

It includes setting aside funds, which Gov. Hilario Davide III said LGUs should have enough since the PDRRMC is there only to support them.

The governor also said LGUs should have Quick Response Teams that can immediately be deployed during emergency situations.

This was after huge waves destroyed the homes of 489 families in barangays Poblacion, Pooc, Biasong, Dumlog and Cansojong last Sunday.

Incessant rain has also caused flooding in the neighboring province of Negros Occidental that caused deaths and damage to properties.

In yesterday’s meeting, PDRRMC Chairman Neil Sanchez said they are focusing on preparedness and rehabilitation efforts of LGUs during disasters like storms.

The PDRRMC has been allotted P108 million in the 2014 budget for projects like disaster preparedness programs. Sanchez said that aside from the amount, they still have P60 million from last year that they could likewise tap.

The P5 million recently given to Cordova as aid over an oil spill came from the PDRRMC.

Sanchez said that so far, LGUs have been responsive to their advisories and in giving updates to their office.

“Ang ato lang (What we like) is we have to strengthen the local government units,” said Sanchez, adding that Cebu LGUs are 60 percent finished in their disaster preparedness programs.

He said that even if Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, which was badly flooded due to successive rains last week, has a well-planned disasters preparedness program, it was still greatly affected.

“Ang advantage sa Cebu wala kaayo ta dagko na sapa diri (we do not have big rivers),” Sanchez said, warning that this is no reason for LGUs to be complacent.

“Lain naman gyud ang panahon (These are different times now). So sa atong mga communities, please continue to monitor hazard prone areas, riverbanks, coastal areas, sloping areas. If we need to evacuate as a proactive measure ato na buhaton (we should do it).”

Meanwhile, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said there is now an urgent need for LGUs to conduct continuing information and education campaigns to their constituents.

He said the campaign should reach even the puroks, or the lowest unit in a community, so people would be well-prepared and well-organized just in case disasters strike.

He also called on LGUs again to step up their information campaign to raise public awareness on geological hazards, particularly landslides and flooding, to mitigate their impacts to life and property.

“It is highly important that our people or communities should know how to respond to certain disasters,” Montejo said.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-7 Director Loreto Alburo, on the other hand, said that putting more value on environmental education would prepare communities in far-flung towns and other areas, which MGB identified and declared as susceptible to landslides and flooding, to become flexible or resilient and capable in responding appropriately to any disasters.

Sanchez, though, said their problem that even if a place is considered dangerous, there are still residents who would refuse to evacuate because they do not want to leave behind their properties.

He said it is standard operating procedure for them to first evacuate children, women and the elderly and allow those capable of protecting themselves and their properties to stay.

Further, Sanchez said LGUs should provide long-term solutions to safety concerns of their people instead of merely evacuating families affected by disasters and providing them assistance.

Also yesterday, Senior Supt. Edward Carranza, Regional Chief Directorial Staff of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7, said the 72 police scouts deployed in flood-hit areas in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental Sunday were not equipped with safety gears and did not have proper training.

One of the policemen, PO1 Rodelin Gonzaga, 29, of Iminaba, Bayawan City, got separated from a lifeline and died while rescuing trapped residents in Barangay Villareal.

Carranza said they would be reviewing what happened.

Supt. Renato Dugan, PRO-7 public information officer, said the Negros Oriental Police Station is now working on the release of the P400,000 benefits of Gonzaga.

He said that despite what happened, the police scouts would not be pulled out yet from the affected areas to continue ongoing assistance efforts.

Rain-induced flooding and landslides that enveloped portions of Bayawan City, Siaton, Basay, Sta. Catalina and Dumaguete City in neighboring Negros island displaced 5,000 people, who were evacuated to safer areas last Sunday, Oct. 6. —AJ  de la Torre, Marigold P. Lebumfacil, Ria Mae Y. Booc/RHM