CEBU CITY, Cebu, Dec. 28 -- The Department of Environment Natural Resources Central Visayas (DENR-7) has deployed a total of 34 chainsaws to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7) and local government units on Dec. 17.

This is to assist in the immediate execution of clearing operations in roads and passageways in different parts of the region badly hit by Typhoon "Odette" (International name: Rai).

Along with its deployment, DENR-7 also submitted a complete list of their chainsaw inventory together with the complete list of permittees for chainsaw usage to the Emergency Operation Center of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) for references.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7) of DENR has created a composite team for water sampling.

The EMB-7 deployed two teams conducting ambient water sampling in Northern Cebu (Liloan area, Consolacion, Mandaue and Mactan Coastal Area) and Southern Cebu (Cebu Port Area, Talisay, Naga and San Fernando).

The bureau said the first two samples from Punta Engaño near Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu and Umapad, Mandaue City near the bridge and Petron taken on Dec. 23 and 24 were brought to Ostrea Laboratory since the EMB laboratory cannot analyze the samples due to lack of electricity.

The office is still waiting for the result of these two samples which will be available by Dec. 29.

The other samples taken on Dec. 28 will also be brought to Ostrea laboratory, an accredited laboratory of EMB-7. (IDC/PIA7/DENR-EMB7)