MANILA, Philippines – As Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) inches closer to the Philippines and “tensions” begin rising in areas in the path of the storm, President Benigno Aquino III told his Cabinet that their job was to “calm [people] down.” 

“[Typhoon] Ruby presents a challenge, but we’ve been challenged worse by [Typhoon] Yolanda… of course, certain headlines do not help,” Aquino said during the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council’s meeting on Thursday, December 4. 

The Thursday meeting was attended by many of Aquino’s Cabinet members such as Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, and Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin, among others. 

All government agencies part of the NDRRMC were also represented in the meeting, held hours after Ruby entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and just as the typhoon intensified and gained speed. 

Government scientists said Ruby would become even stronger as it continues to barrel through the Pacific Ocean. The typhoon could pack maximum winds of up to 220 kilometers per hour. 

Ruby is expected to make landfall over areas still reeling from the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

To Aquino, this meant that agencies should have learned from the mistakes of the past. 

No excuses  

“I will not be patient [when it comes to] excuses after [Ruby]… The checklist for what should be done, preferably should have been done yesterday,” said Aquino, who for over 2 hours grilled his men and women over their agencies’ readiness for Ruby. 

Ruby is expected to make landfall over Borongan, Eastern Samar, Saturday morning, December 6 by mid-afternoon, the typhoon will cross Samar, hit Masbate by 8pm, and Romblon by Sunday, December 7. 

By Tuesday, government scientists expect Ruby to be outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

While Ruby makes landfall, it is likely to cause 3-4 meter high storm surges, in Carigara and Babatngon in Leyte, Santa Rita and Basey in Samar, and Tacloban City in Leyte. (READ: How to know if storm surge threatens your area)

The lack of awareness of storm surges during Yolanda resulted in the deaths of thousands, mostly in Tacloban City.

Officials said maps showing possible storm surge hazards and levels would be updated regularly, as more data about Ruby comes in. 

Some 995 municipalities and 85 cities covering over 50 provinces will be affected by Ruby, according to Roxas.

Roxas, who is also the vice chairman for preparedness in the NDRRMC, earlier issued an alert bulletin for LGUs along Ruby’s path, telling them to start evacuating residents in danger zones and to convene their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. 

Aquino said he wanted LGUs to submit reports on evacuations – where people are to evacuated and when they were evacuated. “This is my advice to all of these LGUs. There has to be accountability… that these are the areas that have to be evacuated,” he said.

Ghosts of Yolanda  

Most of Aquino’s questions focused on government’s difficulties and lapses in the aftermath of Yolanda. Government was heavily criticized for the perceived slowness of pace of relief operations. 

Communication lines were down for days and power, out for months after the storm. Fuel also became a sparse commodity in towns and cities hit by the storm. 

NDRRMC chief Undersecretary Alexander Pama said they have links with volunteer groups to bring mobile cellular sites into areas that may be cut off after Ruby. Pama also said oil groups had committed to providing fuel, so long as the government takes care of its transport. 

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, also a former governor of Leyte, said they would not be able to guarantee that power lines would not be toppled, and added that fixing damaged lines would be their priority. 

Aquino also pressed officials to pinpoint a staging area for relief operations where the government’s “pre-positioned” assets would be placed. The President listed down several possible towns including Guiuan in Eastern Samar, Tagbilaran in Bohol, or Catbalogan in Samar. 

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Genera Gregorio Catapang Jr suggested Cebu as a possible staging point where the military’s 2 C130s could be based.

Aquino also pressed on the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s preparedness in responding to Ruby. The PNP earlier ordered a directive for all affected regional offices to start accounting personnel and preparing for the storm. 

“Are you sure your directive has teeth? Remember in Tacloban city, only 20 of 200 personnel showed up after Yolanda even if that directive was sent,” Aquino said in a mix of English and Filipino. 

The lack of a police force in the city led to a breakdown of order in the city, after hungry and desperate survivors resorted to looting. 

“Let them know that they will be charged if they desert theirs posts,” Aquino told PNP Civil Relations chief Police Director Daniel Constantino. – Rappler.com

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