Tacloban airport staff brace for #RubyPH

Pia Ranada

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Tacloban airport staff brace for #RubyPH
Tacloban airport staff, still recovering from Yolanda trauma, make hard decisions to keep the vital transportation hub running

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – They are only beginning to recover from Super Typhoon Yolanda, but the people of Tacloban face another strong typhoon.

At the Tacloban Airport, operations depend on a skeletal staff hard at work despite the imminent arrival of Typhoon Ruby, expected to make landfall in Northern or Eastern Samar on Saturday, December 6.

Though state weather bureau PAGASA says Ruby is weaker than Yolanda and is more comparable to Typhoon Pablo, many Taclobanons cannot help but prepare for the worst.

Guards at the airport tell Rappler that many of those who died in the area during Yolanda were the street vendors right outside the airport. Those who survived owe their lives to the trees in the parking lot which they latched on to as storm surges submerged the compound.

Today, the usually lively spot is a deadzone. All the street vendors have boarded up their stores and gone to evacuation centers, the guards say.

Inside the airport, only the key staffmembers were required to go to work – those involved with operations, fire rescue and security like traffic controllers, air navigation specialists, and guards. Administrative staff did not have to call in.

Keeping Tacloban Airport running is crucial. In the aftermath of Yolanda, it became a crucial hub for relief goods and responders. 

Crucial staff

A shifting system is being implemented. Tacloban Tower acting assistant chief Alfredo Destura’s shift on Friday is from 5 am to 1 pm. But he’s not 100% sure he’ll have a substitute for the 1 pm to 9 pm shift.

“Hopefully, they come and there won’t be a problem because if there is a problem, we will be forced to continue our watch. That is part of our obligation if no one substitutes,” he says.

The airport looks brand new from the outside, newly painted in white and blue. But Destura says the facility is far from being storm-proof just yet.

“In terms of structure, these are just repairs. We are only at the stage of repairs so there are still no reinforcements regarding improvement to prepare for such a typhoon.”

TACLOBAN TOWER. Air traffic controllers and air navigation specialists are the few required to report for work in Tacloban Airport

But they’ve learned important and practical lessons from Yolanda. Realizing the importance of communication equipment, they have been instructed to waterproof everything and store them in a place safe from winds and water.

Top management has also introduced a new protocol that allows all airport personnel to leave their posts if the typhoon reaches wind strengths of more than 50 knots or more than 100 kilometers per hour.

Hard decisions

Destura, like everyone else, has loved ones to keep safe as well.

Before reporting for work, he made preparations at his family home, which thankfully is far enough from the coast to be safe from storm surge.

“We reinforced the roof, unlike before when 4 nails are enough. Now, we added [more nails]. Every corrugated piece needs to be nailed in. We wrapped our belongings in plastic. We put the television and refrigerator in an elevated place. We prepared floating devices and rope.” 

His wife, who he has two kids with, would almost not let him leave the house.

Destura was also on duty when Yolanda struck Tacloban. From his perch on the tower, he watched how the sea claimed the airport’s runway and buildings.

He remembers how his previously all-encompassing view of the surrounding area turned into a white blindness as Yolanda unleashed its torrential rain.

He saw co-workers hanging on to trees and ropes for dear life. Many of his co-workers died that day.  

But a sense of duty to keep the vital facility running compels employees like Destura to make some hard decisions. – Rappler.com

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Pia Ranada

Pia Ranada is Rappler’s Community Lead, in charge of linking our journalism with communities for impact.