KIDAPAWAN CITY – The local government here activated Thursday a preventive action plan to cushion the impact of heavy downpour and strong winds as Typhoon Ompong barrels towards the northern Philippines.
“The ‘Oplan’ (operation plan) simply aims to set all safety measures to prevent loss of lives,” Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista said in a statement.
Although the city is far from the path of typhoon Ompong, it is currently experiencing light to heavy rains that could trigger landslides as in the past. Kidapawan is situated at the side of Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak,
Psalmer Bernalte, city disaster risk reduction and management council (CDRRMC) action officer, led the coordination meeting of all council members for the implementation of the plan.
“Forced evacuation is an option,” Bernalte said of the Oplan.
On Thursday night when the city experienced hours of light to moderate rain, CDRRMC field personnel had conducted information dissemination to people living beside creeks and rivers.
Bernalte said three sub-villages in Barangay Balabag and Ilomavis are closely being watched because there communities are prone to flash floods.
He advised residents and village officials “to always open their communication lines, to charge mobile phones, and have their flashlights ready” as power outages are likely to happen during calamities.
Evangelista has called for everybody’s cooperation to ensure that no residents’ lives are imperiled when calamities strike. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
