Red alert up as PH braces for ‘Hagupit’
The critical areas that could be affected by typhoon Ruby if it continues moving west. INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Wednesday went on red alert status in preparation for Typhoon “Hagupit” (local name Ruby).
“Yes. We have declared red alert today. It means we are [fully manning] our operations center wherein all member agencies have focal persons. We have representatives for full purposes of coordination,” said Usec. Alexander Pama, NDRRMC Executive Director in a press briefing.
There are two scenarios for the typhoon: It would either make landfall in Eastern Visayas or recurve towards southern Japan. Based on current forecast models, there is a 75 percent chance of landfall and 25 percent of recurve according to the state weather bureau.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has boosted its coordination with local government units.
“Nagbigay ng kautusan na dapat andun ang local chief executives sa kanilang mga lugar at simulan na ang paghahanda ng disaster reduction machinery,” said DILG Usec. Austere Panadero.
“Pinag aabiso din sa mga mamamayan lalo na ang mga mangingisda na pumalaot na kung Sabado [ang landfall] starting tomorrow pa lamang huwag na pumalaot,” he added.
“Nais naming paalalahanan ang kababayan at local government na gumawa ng hakbang at ang mga pamilya na magkaroon ng sariling paghahanda. Wag kalimutan na dumadaan ang bagyo kahit nasa loob ng bahay…,” he also said.
One of the two scenarios for Hagupit is that it would slam Eastern Visayas, an area flattened by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, on Saturday.
“Para sa mga nakatira sa tabing dagat sa Tacloban, kasalukuyang nagkakaroon na ng paghahanda para mailikas ang 62 families galing sa Barangay 88 at ibang pamilya sa tabing dagat na mailipat na natapos ng permanent shelters para kung sakali magkaroon ng storm surge ay hindi na magiging kaawa-awa ang kanilang kalagayan,” said Department of Social Welfare and Development Asec. Vilma Cabrera.
The Department of Education has also ordered its regional units to prepare ahead of the typhoon.
“Although Saturday ang landfall, the days ahead will be about preparation. Gusto ko manawagan sa school heads ang paghahanda na isecure na ang mga records, libro, computer para hindi mabasa. Itago nang maayos. Kung may puno na dapat i-prune para di mabagsakan ang mga classroom at kung may ongoing construction like Yolanda-hit areas, we want to appeal to the schools to secure their equipment and then don’t incur additional damage” said Assistant Education Secretary Rey Laguda.
He added that class suspensions in affected areas would be in coordination with local government units.
