By Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA
DUMAGUETE CITY – Officials in Negros Oriental are preparing for Tropical Depression Samuel which has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), and appealed to the local governments and the public to be on their toes, avoid sea travels and being stranded in ports.
On Monday morning, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) convened at the Capitol’s old session hall for a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment/Emergency Preparedness for Response as “Samuel” was spotted off Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur and is expected to make its way through the Visayas by Tuesday.
PDDRMC Executive Officer Adrian Sedillo, who presided the meeting in lieu of PDRRMC chair Governor Roel Degamo who was away on official business, disclosed that the pre-disaster meeting was to review and re-visit contingency plans and safety and security drills of government, non-government and private entities at the onset of an emergency.
“As usual, we need to re-ascertain our readiness and capabilities, and make sure all stakeholders involved are prepared for any eventuality,” he said.
“While we are hoping that Negros Oriental will not be directly hit by Tropical Depression Samuel, nevertheless, we still have to prepare for the worse,” Sedillo said. “And as always, we aim for zero casualties.”
He pointed out that even though chances are the storm would shift its course and head towards the northern part of the province, still, Dumaguete City and other towns and cities in Negros Oriental would still be affected by rains in the storm’s outer cloud bands.
This could trigger floods and landslides and therefore, people must still be vigilant, according to Sedillo.
“One of the highlights this morning, which I think is very significant, nihangyo ang Coast Guard nga through the media (the Coast Guard requested through the media), that with the looming Signal No. 1, is asking the general public to not go to the ports anymore,” he said.
While sea travel is still normal as of this writing, Sedillo pointed out that in the past, when sea travel is cancelled at the last minute, numerous seafarers are stranded in seaports with nowhere to go.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced in its 11 a.m. severe weather bulletin that it might hoist Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 over Negros Oriental, Cebu, and Siquijor, among other areas by 5 p.m.
Because of this, the PDRRMC is anticipating that many of those traveling by sea would get stranded until after the storm has passed.
Sedillo recalled previous incidents here, such as in September this year, when thousands of passengers were stranded in the port of Dumaguete after the cancellation of a vessel bound for Manila due to Typhoon Ompong.
The passengers had to be brought to the gymnasium of the Dumaguete City High School where the city government, through the City Social Welfare Office, gave out provisions.
The PDRRMC executive officer is also coordinating with the different DRRM offices in the towns and cities in Negros Oriental to stay vigilant and prepare for Tropical Depression Samuel as it might bring heavy rains, resulting in flooding and landslides.
Present during the meeting were those from the uniformed services such as the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, government agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, PAGASA, Philippine Ports Authority, and others.
