Class suspension significant in lowering typhoon’s death toll—NDRRMC

MANILA, Philippines – National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos on Tuesday said that cancellation of classes was significant in lowering the number of casualties when weather disturbances hit the country.

He said this while giving Radyo Inquirer 990AM an update on the effects of Typhoon Gener, adding that the present death toll of seven persons was lower than the number of deaths in previous storms.

Suspension of classes, Ramos said, ensured that parents, students and teachers would not venture outside their homes during a storm—sparing them from falling victims to road accidents or being stranded by floods.

AP photo

Asked to comment on the barges which rammed shanties along the shoreline of Manila Bay Sunday midnight, he said that local authorities should not allow homes to be built along the seaport as it places residents at risk every time there is a weather disturbance.

The country may experience bad weather for two to three more days, he said, as Typhoon Gener has yet to exit the Philippines.

But raising storm signals over Regions III, IV-A and even Metro Manila was not an option as heavy rains and strong winds experienced in the area was not caused by Typhoon Gener alone but two more contributing weather systems: a shallow low pressure area and the southwest monsoon.

For more of the interview, listen to Radyo Inquirer 990AM.