LGUs, agencies ready for Typhoon Dodong

Mara Cepeda

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LGUs, agencies ready for Typhoon Dodong
(UPDATED) On Saturday, DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero says #DodongPH will be the official hashtag used to monitor calls for rescue and other typhoon updates from citizens

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Local governments will be “more than 90% crossing 100%” prepared when Typhoon Dodong (international name: Noul) makes landfall in Isabela on Sunday, May 10.

This is the assessment of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the pre-disaster risk assessment meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)  on Friday, May 8.

DILG Central Office Disaster Information Coordinating Center chief Allan Tabell said the DILG immediately activated all its disaster monitoring systems in Regions 1, 2, 3, CAR, 4A, 5, and 8.

State weather bureau PAGASA forecasted the typhoon to make landfall in the Isabela-Cagayan area on Sunday, May 10, while the Weather Philippines forecast is that Dodong will make landfall along the shores of Eastern Isabela on the same day.

Local officials in the affected areas were asked to start monitoring Typhoon Dodong beginning May 7 through personal calls, text blasts, and e-mails. The DILG has been providing constant weather updates to LGUs from PAGASA weather advisories.

Avoid outdoor activities

As of 10 am SaturdayTyphoon Dodong has slowed down and maintained its strength. Public Storm Signal Number 3 has been raised over Cagayan, Isabela, and Northern Aurora.

In a press briefing on Saturday, May 9, PAGASA weather division chief Esperanza Cayanan said, “Yung estimated rainfall natin is from heavy to at times intense within the 200-km diameter of the typhoon (Estimated rainfall is from heavy to at times intense within the 200-km diameter of the typhoon).”

Cayanded added they expect the typhoon to exit the Philippine landmass via the Aparri-Cagayan area by Sunday afternoon. Dodong is estimated to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday, May 11.

She also said residents in low-lying areas and mountainous areas under public storm signal numbers are advised to watch out for possible floods and landslides. Fisherfolk are advised not to venture over the eastern seaboard of the Luzon coast.

Cayanan advised people to refrain from doing any outdoor activities in beaches along eastern and northern Luzon.

During the May 9 briefing, DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere Panadero said #DodongPH will be officially used to monitor calls for rescue and other typhoon updates from citizens.

Preparedness

Various government agencies reported their preparations to the NDRRMC chaired by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Gazmin praised the disaster preparedness efforts of the agencies and hoped that they will deliver on the ground.

Napakaganda nung mga preparation. I do hope na pag may nangyari, itong mga preparation na ito ay talagang maisasagawa, hindi lang pang-briefing (The disaster preparation activities are very good. I do hope that if something happens during the typhoon, these preparations will really be executed, and not just reported for briefing purposes),” he said.

The Department of Health has raised Code White Alert, which refers to the readiness of hospital manpower to respond to any emergency situation.  

During Code White Alert, emergency service, nursing and administrative personnel in hospital dormitories shall be placed on an on-call status for immediate mobilization.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it has deployed DRRM teams to the affected regions.

Heavy equipment and assets from the DPWH and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including helicopters, dump tracks, backhoes, and payloaders, are on standby for any possible evacuation efforts.

The AFP, Philippine National Police (PNP), and Bureau of Fire Protection personnel are already on standby for possible deployment. The PNP National Disaster Operations Center has been activated as well.

The Coast Guard remains on heightened alert status and will constantly provide updates to its units on gale warnings for small boats.

Flood and landslide advisories, meanwhile, will be released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) .

The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has directed all its attached agencies and regional offices to secure all facilities, equipment, vehicles, vessels and aircraft under their jurisdiction.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has also been securing school facilities and records since Thursday. – Rappler.com

 

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.