PILI, Camarines Sur (PIA)—In anticipation of the heavy rains due to the incoming weather disturbance, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) raised a pre-“Paeng” Red Alert Status, as a preliminary measure to ensure the safety of residents residing in flood-prone and vulnerable areas.
The memorandum, issued by Camarines Sur Governor Vincenzo Renato Luigi R. Villafuerte yesterday, Oct. 25, also covered the preparation for the upcoming commemoration of Undas comes November. Local authorities are expecting a heavy influx of home-bound Camarinenses to visit their departed loved ones.
On the same day, PDRRMC members also convened to map out contingency plans as LPA “Paeng” is likely to affect municipalities in the southeastern part of Camarines Sur.
Environment, Disaster Management, and Emergency Response Office (EDMERO) Field Geologist Chris Ian C. Pan came up with scenarios based on the location of the eye of “Paeng”.
“The LPA has a higher chance to develop into a Tropical Cyclone within 72 hours. We came up with different scenarios; 1st, it may move closer to Bicol region wherein we can feel strong winds along the coastal areas on the Eastern part of Bicol; and second, it may move far from Bicol and we will only experience light to moderate rains in most part of the region. We are not also ruling out the possibility of a landfall over the Bicol region,” Pan said.
Affected areas might include the coastal municipalities of Siruma, Tinambac, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, and San Jose. Other towns included in the 300-km radius are Lagonoy, Goa, and Tigaon.
Various response clusters were also activated to ensure that all agency representatives were ready to be deployed if the situation necessitates their presence.
Local DRRMCs were likewise directed to activate their respective 24/7 Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and IncidenManagement Teams (IMTs) to ensure that all disaster measures are in place.
As part of preparedness measures, PDRRMC also ordered road clearing operations like trimming of trees along the national highway, and cleaning and de-clogging of spillways, canals, drainages, rivers, and similar bodies of water to avoid flooding.
Preparation for Undas is only underway.
As per the issued memorandum, all LDRRMCs are expected to assess public and private cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria, not just for the expected mass arrival of Camarinenses but also in anticipation of the ill effects of the incoming weather disturbance.
Although considered an open space, visitors and those visiting the cemeteries are highly encouraged to wear face masks considering the expected crowding of people in the said places. The implementation of minimum public health standards is highly advised. (PIA5/Camarines Sur, with reports from CIPan EDMERO)
(Cover photo credits: EDMERO/ PDRRMC Camarines Sur)
