Radio anchor is disaster management chief

AN anchor of a Cebu City Hall paid radio program has replaced the director of Cebu City’s disaster risk reduction management office.

Simeon Romarate replaced disaster risk management office chief Cathy Yso, who now heads the Operation Second Chance center for youthful offenders.

Yso is identified with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) while Romarate, who assumed office without a formal notice, anchored a radio dyLa blocktime program “Kagawasan.”

Romarate and other City Hall employees face a complaint filed against them by BO-PK at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for allegedly attacking them on air even during the elections.

Operations chief Alvin Santillana said he is still waiting for word from Mayor Michael Rama on his own status.

“But the mayor personally requested me to respond to any disaster alert,” Santillana said.

The office continues to take emergency calls and relays them to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Basak Pardo Emergency Response (BPER) Team, Red Cross, and Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF).

The Cebu City disaster risk management command center has yet to be renovated.

“Equipment will be delivered once the center is renovated,” Santillana said.

Santillana said he cannot follow up on the renovation and the procurement of additional equipments while his appointment remains pending. Correspondent Jose Santino Bunachita