Don’t wait for warnings, hill, coastal residents told
RESIDENTS in landslide and flood-prone areas in Cebu shouldn’t wait for reminders to relocate to safer ground, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) said yesterday.
“They should not wait for us to issue the warning. If you feel that you are not safe, you should evacuate,” RDCC official Niel Sanchez said.
He reiterated that they already issued alert warnings throughout Cebu province.
Sanchez said he met with Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa) early last week and was notified that tropical storm “Bebeng” would cause incessant rain in Cebu.
“So far, we had not yet received any report of any landslides or floods,” Sanchez said.
He said their office is especially monitoring the northern part of Cebu since it is susceptible to flooding.
Sanchez said the terrain in Cebu’s northern portion is mostly made of limestone which is vulnerable to siltation after a downpour.
All disaster risk management councils in Cebu were on alert for any emergency, he added.
The RDCC said local governemnt units (LGUs) remain pro-active on their disaster management programs after being notified about the danger zones in their areas.
A geohazard map completed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) in 2009 identified landslide and flood-prone areas in Cebu.
A wet summer was projected for Region 7 due to the lingering effects of the La Niña phenomenon.
Incessant rains caused by the cloud bond from tropical depression Bebeng will continue within the week.
As of 5 p.m yesterday, the Visayas and the rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms.
The Philippine Coast Guard in Central Eastern Visayas (PCG-CEV) issued an advisory on all marine vessels to take precautions.
So far, there were no canceled trips in Cebu province.
Captain Anelito Gabisan, PCG-CEV public information officer, said in a phone interview that they advised all their stations to warn operators of motorized bancas not to sail unless the weather cleared.
Gabisan also advised fishermen to take precautions when they would set sail at sea.
“If they will sail, they should have all the emergency tools like lifejackets, flashlights and so on,” he said.
Gabisan said they are on heightened alert for any incident at sea with their personnel on coastal patrol for any weather disturbances.
Pre-departure inspections of all passenger vessels are done to avoid over-loading, he said.
On Twitter, Cebu Pacific Air also issued an advisory yesterday on the cancellations of their five flights bound for Legaspi, Naga and Caticlan due to bad weather.
Affected passengers will be accommodated on the next available flights, they said.
