CALAMBA CITY, Laguna — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 4-A (Calabarzon) on Friday called on volunteers from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces to assist in their disaster preparedness and operations for Typhoon Ompong.
DENR 4-A Assistant Director for Technical Services Arturo E. Fadriquela said their plan covers the deployment of field personnel for clearing operations and delivering fully-charged generator sets in case of power outages.
The regional operations are conducted as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) hoisted tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 over the Calabarzon region.
They are also in line with DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu’s assessments during the disaster preparation briefings with President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday. “Power outage and water disruption. These are the expected consequences of the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong, which is expected to make landfall on the northern portion of the Philippine islands in less than 24 hours,” Fadriquela said.
Fadriquela, DENR 4-A’s head for the relief and rescue operations, said they would be coordinating with Calabarzon’s Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) should their services be needed.
He also said they are looking into the possibility of providing go-bags to affected communities, and warm bodies to support other services. “Kung hindi naman apektado, maging available din ang mga tao natin kung saka-sakaling i-deploy sa mga repacking (If the teams are not affected, our personnel and volunteers are readily available to be deployed in repacking),” he added.
Meanwhile, DENR 4-A Director Maria Paz G. Luna has called on their personnel to assess available resources and the manpower to be deployed to disaster-affected areas. “We would like to have an inventory of standby generators and water tanks that people can lend and we can mobilize in areas of greatest need so we are calling on people to let us know if they have one we can borrow,” Luna said.
The DENR’s relief and rescue operations are part of the “Tayo ang Kalikasan” program launched in the region in Tayabas City, Quezon during the 7th Regional Protected Area Management Board Summit in August.
On potential garbage accumulation during and after the typhoon, Luna said “we aim to have as close to zero waste operation as possible because trash mounds in disaster areas turn into breeding places of pests and germs.”
Melinda G. Gordo, head of the Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Section of the DENR 4-A, said the volunteers may contact their regional office through hotline numbers 09202068610 and 09553912684, email address: [email protected], or Facebook page @denr4aofficial. ( Saul Pa-a/PNA)
