By Gerry Gorit
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, (PNA) -– Misamis Oriental is not prepared to handle emergencies in case of major earthquakes, Provincial Administrator Edmundo Pacamalan, Jr. said on Thursday.
Pacamalan made the statement after Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano ordered a review of the province’s capability to respond to a major earthquake, especially with a similar magnitude that struck the Visayas region last Tuesday.
A magnitude of 7.2 earthquake struck the Visayas region on Tuesday morning leaving a trail of destruction on lives and property in the provinces of Bohol and Cebu.
“On a scale of 10, in terms of the province’s preparedness in responding to major earthquakes, Gov. Emano rated the province at 5,” Pacamalan said.
Pacamalan said that the low rating was attributed to lack of equipment for rescue especially communication facilities.
He said that the province has a network of radio operators with the radio units that no longer functions.
Pacamalan lamented the non-existence of a trust fund where calamity funds should have been deposited.
He said however, that the province would gradually fill the much needed equipment and facilities equipment by training disaster response teams out of the expected five percent Internal Revenue Allotment for disaster management next year.