Rice and corn farms and low-lying villages in Allacapan, Cagayan, remain flooded on Friday after Typhoon Marce triggered heavy rainfall in the province. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLACAPAN MAYOR HARRY FLORIDA)
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday said the government is ready to respond to the effects of typhoons in the coming days and weeks of the year.
OCD head Ariel Nepomuceno, however, admitted that the consecutive storms/typhoons in the past few weeks are unprecedented, even in the current system the government has for disaster response.
“Nakalatag naman ‘yung sistema natin, although admittedly itong sistema natin hindi na-assume ‘yung ganitong scenario, bago rin sa’tin ito,” said Nepomuceno during a Kapihan sa Manila Hotel briefing.
(Our system is in place, although admittedly our system did not assume this scenario; it is also new to us.)
“Pero ready naman ‘yung ating sistema, and ‘yung provisions and relief goods ready naman ‘yan kahit hanggang Disyembre,” he added.
(But our system is ready, and the provisions and relief goods are ready even until December.)
Nepomecuno explained that the OCD has begun augmenting response teams in affected areas with personnel from other regions or areas not as adversely affected by the storms, as well as from other relevant agencies such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Coast Guard.
“Meron tayong total of 20,000 personnel who are trained to do rescue work. Nabibilang sila sa over 1,800 teams nationwide so ready naman tayo sa sistema, natutunan din namin ‘yung rotation para makatagal ‘yung tauhan,” he said.
(We have a total of 20,000 personnel who are trained to do rescue work. They belong to over 1,800 teams nationwide so we are ready; we have also learned the rotation so that the staff can last longer.)
To further assist affected communities, Nepomuceno also said that they have already begun rolling out psychosocial impact intervention initiatives.
In terms of funding, the OCD chief said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already committed to allocating more funds to the Department of Social Welfare and Development to assist in providing aid to affected communities.
“Laging nagagawan ng paraan ‘yan, ‘wag tayong magalala doon. Ang mas iniintindi natin ngayon ‘yung kapaguran hindi lang ng mga tauhan natin kundi ng mga nagpupunta sa evacuation centers,” said Nepomuceno.
(We always find ways to address it; let’s not worry about that. What we are focusing on more now is the fatigue not only of our staff but of those who go to the evacuation centers.)
Nepomuceno stressed the need to ramp up the country’s level of preparedness, which involves increasing the funding for disaster response.
After weeks of consecutive typhoons, the country is now bracing for Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi), which may make landfall in Cagayan or Isabela on Thursday.