CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The local government here, through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC), is cautious and preparing for any eventuality, even though Typhoon Ompong will not directly hit Mindanao.
In a pre-disaster conference late afternoon Wednesday, CDRRMC officials and representatives of other city departments and bureaus were briefed on risk assessments based on the city’s previous experiences with typhoons.
When rains begin to fall, the CDRRMC monitors the major rivers, including the Cagayan River and Iponan River, and reviews rescue operations and protocols should untoward incidents happen, especially in flood-prone areas.
Maricel Rivera, head of the city information office, also shared weather updates directly from the CDRRMC and gave out emergency numbers to the public.
She advised the public to dial 911 for Globe subscribers, and (088) 853-9393 for Smart and PLDT subscribers.
Disaster preparedness has been a hallmark of the local government after the 2011 experience on Typhoon Sendong.
The city’s counter-measures were recognized last August, being ranked first in the Disaster Resiliency category in the 2018 Regional Competitive Index. (Nef Luczon/PNA)
