By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Bacolod and Negros Occidental are gearing up for tropical storm “Auring.”
Executive Assistant Jose Ma. Vargas said the typhoon is estimated to land on Bacolod Sunday evening or Monday morning.
Vargas convened the Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) for a Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment and Emergency Preparedness for Response last Thursday, on orders of Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
The CDRRMC has already set up a Command Center at the Annex Building of the Bacolod City Government Center.
“All the reports will be conveyed at the Command Center and the response teams will also be stationed there,” Vargas said.
He added that they have already coordinated with the rescue, transportation, and evacuation facilities of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Vargas said the police will handle the patrolling; the Bureau of Fire Protection will provide water in the evacuation center; and the City Health Office will manage the medical facilities if ever there will be evacuation. Barangay health centers will also be activated.
Vargas said they are very cautious of the flood-prone areas such as Barangays 2, 8, 10, 16, Bata, Banago, Pahanocoy, and Villamonte.
The city has been conducting excavation and dredging operations of Mambulok creek for clean-up since February 1.
Tree pruning was also conducted in several areas of the city, as well as cutting down uprooted trees to prevent any untoward incidents.
Vargas assured the public that the city’s emergency response system is ready.
He advised everyone to immediately contact barangay officials or the police, whoever is nearer, in case of emergency.
Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) was placed on “full alert” since Wednesday.
Last month, the northern part of the province was badly hit by series of flashfloods brought by heavy rains that displaced thousands of individuals and destroyed infrastructures and agriculture crops and live stock. The January 1 and 8 flashfloods also claimed two lives.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)- Negros Occidental reported yesterday that a passenger vessel was forced to return to San Carlos City port due to strong waves.
The ship was carrying rolling cargoes and one Authorized Person Outside of Residence (APOR) bound for Toledo City, Cebu.
The captain of the vessel decided to return to the port for safety reasons.