By Perla Lena/PNA
ILOILO CITY — All barangay disaster risk reduction and management councils (BDRRMCs) of the 180 villages here were placed on blue alert Tuesday in preparation for the expected landfall of Tropical Depression Samuel.
In an interview, Donna Magno, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said they are just waiting for Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III to sign the memorandum order for the BDRRMCs to activate their operation centers.
Magno explained that the blue alert status has been raised to prompt vulnerable areas to conduct their pre-disaster risk assessment and to provide information and updates to the CDRRM council.
They also must coordinate their search and rescue cluster with the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and volunteer groups.
Staff members of the CDRRMO have been going around the city’s coastal villages to “check their readiness.”
“Our priority is always the coastal areas because of the storm surge,” Magno said.
Ed Blair Peñaranda, CDRRMO early warning system staff, said they have distributed flyers with hotline numbers and have urged coastal barangay officials and residents to be vigilant.
“We are experiencing moderate rain from time to time. We also monitored strong waves coming from the shore,” he added.
Peñaranda said they kicked off their information drive in the coastal areas of Bitoon in Jaro district and hopes to cover areas up to Arevalo district in the afternoon.
During the information drive, they also advised residents to choose the evacuation center they should go to.
“Evacuation areas for typhoons are different (from those) for fire and earthquakes,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the city government has suspended classes from pre-school to elementary, both public and private, in preparation for “Samuel’s” landfall.
“I am convinced that our pre-school children and our elementary pupils, considered exposed and vulnerable population, should be protected from the possible effects of strong winds and heavy rainfall,” Espinosa said.
The mayor added that the cancellation “seeks to ensure the safety of children from possible flooding and from any sickness, injuries, or accidents.”
“Their general welfare is the topmost concern of the city government,” he added.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, Iloilo was under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1.
As of 10 a.m., “Samuel’s” center was estimated at 335 km. east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte. It is moving west northwest at 20 km. per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of up to 65 kph.
Magno said that so long as the city is under Signal No. 1, class suspension will stay
