LEGAZPI CITY – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Bicol has placed all disaster response offices on red alert in preparation for the effects of Tropical Depression (TD) Kristine.
In a memorandum issued on Monday, Claudio Yucot, Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-5 director and Bicol RDRRMC chairperson, said the red alert status of the emergency preparedness and response protocols in the region is now under “Charlie”, which means “high-risk”.
Yucot said response clusters are activated with various national government agencies as lead agencies.
These are the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development for food and non-food items, protection and camp coordination and management in case of evacuation; Department of Information and Communications Technology for emergency telecommunications; Police Regional Office-5 for law and order; and Joint Task Force Bicolandia for search, rescue, and retrieval operations.
Also included are the Department of Public Works and Highways for debris cleaning, the Department of the Interior and Local Government for management of the dead and missing, the Philippine Information Agency for strategy communication, and OCD for logistics and early recovery, Yucot said.
“Cluster should regularly report to RDRRMC emergency operation center of status and updates every 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily to provide ample time to collect data,” he added.
Yucot said all agencies’ respective response teams and assets must be on standby for possible deployment.
The Coast Guard Stations of Catanduanes and Camarines Norte suspended sea travel as Kristine is expected to bring moderate to strong winds.
In Catanduanes, all trips of vessels and watercrafts plying within the province, regardless of type and tonnage, are suspended.
In Camarines Norte, trips of vessels and watercraft with 250 gross tonnages and below within the province’s coastal waters are suspended while larger vessels are alerted against big waves.
Meanwhile, the chief executives of local government units in various provinces in the region suspended classes due to the weather disturbance.
In Albay province, the towns of Camalig, Pio Duran, Legazpi City, Guinobatan, Daraga, Libon, Polangui, and Sto. Domingo canceled classes at all levels, both public and private.
The provinces of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte also suspended classes at all levels in all towns and cities.
“The suspension of classes is to ensure the safety of the students, school personnel, and the public,” Camarines Sur Governor Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte said.
According to the 5 p.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), all six Bicol provinces were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Kristine is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall. (PNA)