DUMAGUETE CITY, (PNA) -– The provincial government of Negros Oriental and the local government of Dumaguete City are currently undertaking pruning of top heavy trees as the entire country braces for a “super typhoon” with international code name Haiyan.
This developed following an emergency meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Wednesday at the Capitol’s old session hall.
The meeting was presided by Governor Roel Degamo, PDRRMC chair, and attended by officials and representatives of various government agencies and civil society organizations.
Gov. Degamo announced that immediate pruning of trees must be carried out Wednesday afternoon and Thursday to reduce disaster risks with the expected arrival of “Haiyan”, which will be named “Yolanda” once it enters the Philippines area of responsibility by late Thursday.
He also reiterated a standing order for the pre-positioning of logistics, manpower and other resources as well as relief goods.
Two evacuation centers have already been identified as temporary shelters in the event of pre-emptive evacuation, namely, the Macias Sports Center and the exhibit area of the Negros Oriental Convention Center, according to Adrian Sedillo, PDRRMC executive officer.
Also on standby alert for deployment are rescue groups, the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army.
Sedillo also disclosed that the provincial government will set up at least four telephone hotline numbers while the radio communication groups, NORAD and REACT, have also volunteered to assist the PDRRMC in disseminating updated information on “Yolanda.”
According to Sedillo, the PDRRMC has inspected and readied vehicles, chain saws, power generators, rubber boats, medicines, food stuffs and other important commodities before “Yolanda” is expected to make landfall by Friday morning.
The governor also called on the public again to pay close attention on weather updates through the broadcast media and for those living along the riverbanks, flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to heed the call of their local officials when the need for pre-emptive evacuation arises.