LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 21 (PNA) — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) went on “blue alert” Friday as Typhoon “Ineng” threatened the Bicol peninsula, bringing moderate-to-heavy rains in some parts of the region, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.
Rafael Bernardo Alejandro, OCD regional director and RDRRMC chairperson, said the blue alert (stand by) status took effect on Thursday wherein disaster personnel from various agencies were activated and put on a 24/7 duty for any eventuality to ensure public safety and to sustain the “zero casualty” goal.
Alejandro said his office had already coordinated with the six PDRRMC and advised them to be on alert.
In Albay, rains pelted the province on Friday, prompting the Albay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PRRDMC) to be on alert and issue an emergency special countermeasure.
Also aon Friday, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda issued an advisory warning that Albay is part of the threatened and to be affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon rains that might trigger floods, lahar flows and landslides in low-lying and mountain slope areas in the 15 towns and three cities of the province.
The advisory put to task various town and city disaster councils, which prevented fishermen to sail both in the eastern and western seaboards due to dangerous sea waves and possible storm surges spawned by “habagat”, which normally occurs in the month of August.
Residents of low-lying areas were advised to be prepared to move to higher grounds for their safety while residents living near river channels should avoid crossing the swelling water with expected dislodged vegetation.
Residents near landslide-prone slopes must seek temporary shelters in a distant and safer grounds while the typhoon remains to threaten the northern part of the country and until declared safe by PAGASA and the local authorities, the advisory said.
Salceda also asked residents to, as much as possible, stay indoors in the safer places and avoid unnecessary movement for disaster avoidance.
Salceda advised the public to exercise maximum countermeasures, saying “we cannot afford to underestimate the capacity of the hazard.”
The local weather bureau said Typhoon Ineng continues to move very slowly, almost stationary, with a maximum speed of 13 kph, moving closer to Batanes with an estimated rainfall amount from moderate to heavy within the 600-km diameter. (PNA)