Civil defense execs in Eastern Visayas issue flood, slide alert

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—Regional civil defense officials on Wednesday urged residents of areas prone to flooding and landslides to be on the alert as tropical depression “Falcon” was expected to bring rains to Eastern Visayas.

Epifanio Pabilona, officer-in-charge of the Office of Civil Defense in Region 8, said they issued the alert through the provincial risk reduction and management councils.

Crescencia Quitorio, provincial media liaison officer, said that Governor Conrado Nicart of Eastern Samar activated the provincial risk reduction and management council when he learned that Falcon could affect the province.

Quitorio said that the governor made an appeal through a local radio station based in Borongan City for people living in areas prone to flooding and landslides to take the necessary precautions.

The province was experiencing scattered rain showers as of Wednesday morning, Quitorio said.

Pabilona said that people living at the foot of or near mountains or along coastal areas should always be ready and should not wait for the local government to order an evacuation.

He said that gale warnings were issued on Tuesday for fishermen not to venture out to sea because of the bad weather.

Pabilona also urged local government units in Eastern Samar to put in place all the necessary precautionary measures to achieve the zero-casualty target of the government.

“All their resources needed during a situation like this should now be propositioned like life boats and even evacuation centers and (food) assistance,” Pabilona said.