Eleazar to NDRRMC: Issue report on effects of Typhoon ‘Agaton’ quickly

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar

MANILA, Philippines — Former PNP chief and senatorial candidate Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar called on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to release comprehensive and timely reports on the effects of Tropical Depression “Agaton” so that other local government units (LGUs) that are on the typhoon’s path can also prepare.

Eleazar acknowledged the regular issuance of mobile alerts of NDRRMC about the location of Agaton but he said that equally important is the reporting on the effects of the typhoon, including the number of casualties and evacuees, as well as which areas have been flooded and hit by landslides.

“Time is of the essence sa mga ganitong pagkakataon at buhay ng ating mga kababayan ang nakasalalay. Kaya naman kailangan maging maagap at mabilis ang aksyon ng ating mga ahensya ng gobyerno sa pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng mga residente,” he said.

“Nananawagan ako sa NDRRMC na pabilisin ang paglalabas ng mga datos na nagpapakita ng immediate impact ng bagyo sa mga apektadong lugar. Sa ganitong paraan, malalaman ng ating gobyerno kung saan at anong klaseng tulong ang kailangang agad na maipadala sa mga biktima ni Agaton. Makakatulong din ito para makapaghanda ang iba pang lugar na maaaring tamaan ng bagyo,” the retired police general added.

On Monday, the NDRRMC reported that three persons have died due to Agaton – all of them were reported in Davao region.

But reports from the ground indicate that at least 23 have already perished when Agaton hit Visayas.

Most of the fatalities were recorded in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) after three residential houses in Baybay City, Leyte got buried in a landslide.

Meanwhile, more than 136,000 individuals were affected by the typhoon and at least 13,000 of them were staying in evacuation centers.

“Kung hindi magtutugma ang mga numero ng NDRRMC sa reports sa ibaba ay baka magkaroon ng false sense of security and safety ang ibang lugar na daraanan ni Agaton. Huwag sana tayong pakampante hangga’t hindi pa nakakalabas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) itong si Agaton dahil may isa pang mas malakas na bagyo ang nagbabadya sa ating bansa,” Eleazar said.

He was referring to the typhoon that was still outside the PAR and has an international name of “Malakas.” It was located at about 1,270 kilometers east of Southern Luzon as of Monday night, and will be called Typhoon “Basyang” when it enters the PAR.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Agaton and “Malakas” might have an interaction through the Fujiwhara effect, which means that two storms with similar strength meet and orbit around a central point before they merge.

“Paghandaan natin ang lahat ng posibleng scenario at magagawa natin ito kung mabilis ang dating ng tamang impormasyon mula sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno,” Eleazar said.