PRE-EMPTIVE EVACUATION IN ALBAY UNDERWAY

LEGAZPI CITY – Albay Governor Joey Salceda has directed today the evacuation of residents who are threatened by landslides, lahar flow and flooding in several disaster prone areas in the province in the wake of typhoon “Pepeng”.

As of 10:30 am today, close to 3,000 residents have so far been evacuated while several thousands more are being readied to be relocated to safer grounds in their respective evacuation centers.

Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) chief, said that there are already some 577 families, consisting of 2,808 individuals, already transferred to their respective evacuation centers.

He said that these evacuees include residents of barangays Binitayan, Matnog, Bañadero and Alcala, all in Daraga town; barangays Tagaytay and Ilawod in Camalig, Batan Island in Rapu-Rapu and Basud in Polangui, Albay.

In the municipality of Daraga, AECID (second floor of public market), Daraga High School, Tabon-Tabon and Daraga North Central School are the designated evacuation centers for the residents living at low-lying areas.

According to Daep, barangay halls of Tagaytay and Ilawod, Camalig were occupied by the evacuees, the municipal guest house of Rapu-Rapu town, the barangay hall of Basud, Polangui and Mormon Church in Polangui were likewise opened for the fleeing residents.

Salceda, meanwhile, has also already instructed all mayors to review their preparedness and activate their contingency plans.

Pre-emptive evacuation for storm surge, winds and mud flow will be undertaken by the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) while that for flood and landslide will be ordered by the City and Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils and the Barangay Disaster Coordinating Councils concerned following the cue from river and water level observations as well as rainfall observations using the rain gauges installed in selected rainfall stations. (MALoterte, PIA V)