Local execs in path of supertyphoon told to activate disaster management councils

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said Wednesday he directed local executives in Bicol, Eastern Visayas and MIMAROPA to activate their local disaster risk reduction and management councils (LDRRMC) and disaster monitoring systems in anticipation of Supertyphoon “Haiyan”, which is expected to enter the Philippines midnight of Wednesday.

“It’s better to be ready than sorry in the end. Every hour is important in saving a life,” said Roxas in Filipino of the typhoon that will be locally known as “Yolanda” once it crosses the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Inquirer.net reported that the typhoon was expected to make landfall in Eastern Visayas Friday and would likely affect most of Visayas, parts of Luzon and Mindanao.

Roxas advised the governors and mayors in these areas to seek assistance from the local police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard, and other first-responder units.

He also instructed the local executives to mobilize all government vehicles that may be needed in the evacuation.

“It’s important that our local DRRMC monitor the movement of the typhoon even before it hits land. Preparations mean nothing if we have to wait for the typhoon to hit the Philippines,” he added.

Director General Alan Purisima, Philippine National Police chief, said he has activated PNP’s National Headquarters Disaster Incident Management Task Group to coordinate all disaster response operations of PNP units in areas along the path of the super typhoon.

Disaster response troops, equipment and supplies have also been prepositioned to disaster-prone areas.

These disaster response-capable units include the Special Action Force, Maritime Group, Highway Patrol Group, Police Community Relations Group, as well as the Regional Public Safety Battalions.

Regional Directors in affected areas have also been alerted, Purisima said.

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