EN Camarines Sur: Camarines Sur braces for Typhoon Pablo

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

PILI, Camarines Sur, Dec. 3 (PIA) -- As typhoon Pablo entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early this morning, Camarines Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office ( PDRRMO) has stepped up preparation efforts and placed disaster- and relief-related agencies on heightened alert status.

On Saturday, Dec. 1, the agency initiated conference among agencies including the Provincial Safety Services Office, Provincial Health Office and Provincial Engineering Office, representative from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly from the 42nd Infantry Division, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

PDRRMO is disseminating weather bulletins and advisory member agencies and media to ensure that necessary information will be relayed to the people.

Also in response to the “zero casualty” goal of the government, all local government units, through their Municipal DRRMCs, are now conducting appropriate preparations and dissemination to update their constituents on the development of typhoon Pablo’s path.

All local executives are now preparing for the implementation of their contingency plans should the typhoon gain strength until Wednesday.

Che Bermeo, head of the Camarines Sur Environment Disaster Management and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO), said that they have already alerted their constituents residing in low lying and mountainous areas for possible landslides and flash floods.

People living near coastal waters were warned against heavy rains and strong winds that might cause big waves or storm surges.

Fishermen are also advised to take heed of any advisory from the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure their safety. The same applies to other fishing boats, commercial vessels and other small sea crafts.

Local disaster coordinating councils in all cities and municiplalites are strictly advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the issuance of the succeeding PDRRMO bulletins. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)


Bicol's Task Force activated in the wake of typhoon Pablo

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 3 (PIA) -- Bicol Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) on Sunday has activated Task Force Pablo (TFP) that would undertake pre-emptive evacuation, search and rescue operations in the wake of typhoon Pablo.

Office of Civil Defense 5 Regional Director Bernardo Alejandro said Task Force Pablo is composed of over 200 trained personnel from various units of the Philippine Army, Navy and Air Force, Philippine National Police (PNP) Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Albay Public Safety and Emergency and Management Office (APSEMO).

The task force is also equipped with air, land and sea assets such as rubber boats, ambulances, trucks and other search rescue and retrieval equipment that will be prepositioned in areas threatened by flooding, landslides and storm surge in villages across Bicol, Alejandro said.

Maj. Gen. Romeo Calizo, commanding general of the Army 9th Infantry Division in Bicol, said the activation of TF Pablo is a preparedness measure by the AFP and the civilian authority to address any disaster challenges and emergencies that may arise due to the typhoon.

Albay Gov.Joey Salceda said TF Pablo and the AFP's commitment will assist disaster risk reduction authorities in attaining the Zero Casualty goal during period of disasters.

Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist, meanwhile said in an interview that lahar and other debris from Mayon volcano no longer pose a danger to residents living along the slopes of the volcano.

"Except for volcanic rocks there are no loose materials deposited in the higher slopes of Mayon," Laguerta said.

He said that the volcanic debris spewed by Mayon during the 2006 and 2009 eruption cascaded down by rains at the lower slopes of the volcano specifically in the villages of Tandarora, Maipon channels in Guinobatan, Padang and Mabinit channels in this city. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)