TUGUEGARAO CITY, May 8 (PNA) — Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-Region 2 Director Norma Talosig and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) has reiterated to all disaster action officers in the region, from the provincial down to the barangay level, the zero casualty policy during calamities.
Talosig reminded all disaster management councils to implement response preparedness measures in their areas of responsibility and to prepare constituents for the coming of Typhoon “Dodong”.
She said the response preparedness measures include among others the prepositioning of response assets, stockpiling of food and non-food items, and identification of evacuation centers and implementation of preemptive evacuation.
“May we be united in prayer that this incoming typhoon ‘Dodong’ will spare us from any sever damages and untoward incidents. Through our united efforts I believe we could attain zero casualty in times of calamity,” Talosig said.
Preemptive evacuation of those residing along the riverbanks and other areas vulnerable to flooding and landslide will be strictly implemented in the event that typhoon “Dodong” makes a landfall in the area of responsibility of Region 2, the OCD chief said.
The President has authorized in a directive the use of police powers to force the evacuation of residents living along riverbanks, low-lying areas, mountain slopes and other vulnerable ares during typhoons, and heavy downpours.
“Let us adopt a more proactive stance in managing situations in our respective areas to achieve “zero casualty” during calamaties,” Talosig said. (PNA)