Bicol disaster execs on alert due to ‘Mina’

LEGAZPI City, Philippines—The Bicol Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has alerted all provincial disaster bodies to be on stand-by after a low pressure area east of the Visayas developed into Tropical Depression “Mina” early Monday and was expected to bring widespread rainshowers and thunderstorms in southern Luzon and Visayas, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Bernardo Alejandro, RDRRMC chairman and Office of Civil Defense Bicol director, said disaster response units were on call for immediate activation.

Mina, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour, was spotted 350 kilometers east southeast of Virac, Catanduanes, said a bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Earlier, the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council went on heightened alert and placed the province under a state of preparedness.

Salceda, in a statement released Sunday, said he had also directed the disaster risk reduction and management councils in the 15 towns and three cities of Albay to be on 24-hour watch and be ready to activate their respective flood and landslide evacuation plans.

The local government units of Polangui, Oas, Libon and Malinao, the four most flood-prone towns of Albay, were likewise directed to set up sandbags in low-lying areas always affected by flooding.

Many areas in these towns were still recovering from the flood damage wrought by Tropical Storm “Juaning” last July 25 and 26.

At the onset of heavy rains villagers are warned not the cross swelling rivers. Residents living along mountain slopes are also warned to be on alert for possible landslides.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and the Department of Public Works and Highways were also asked by Salceda to get their trucks, rubber boats and other equipment ready for use in times of evacuation and relief operations.

Eduardo Laguerta, resident volcanologist in Bicol, meanwhile, sought heightened vigilance among residents of Barangays (villages ) Maninila and Maipon in Guinobatan, Albay, as 2009 lahar deposits of Mayon have been loosened by the heavy rains brought by Juaning.

Laguerta also warned residents along the slopes of Bulusan volcano in Sorsogon to coordinate with their respective disaster councils and prepare for possible mudflows and lahar.