Bicol Readies for Floods, Landslides Posed by ‘Hanna’

Legazpi City (PNA) — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) on Wednesday said it has ordered disaster authorities to be on alert status due to the possibility of having for moderate-to-heavy rains brought by Typhoon “Hannah” (Souledor), which already entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Bernardo Rafael Alejandro, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director and concurrent RDRRMC chair, said he has placed the council on Blue Alert, meaning all response agencies, trucks, and equipment have been placed on stand-by alert.

He said the agency will also conduct pre-disaster risk assessment and inventory of supplies and relief goods in case the weather condition worsens and possible evacuation of people at risk would be needed.

Alejandro said he also issued the same advisory to the six provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management offices across the region.

He advised all PDRRMOs to closely monitor the OCD and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)-issued weather bulletins.

Alejandro said Hanna, which is expected to move towards Calayan, Cagayan, may bring moderate-to-heavy rains due to “habagat” and might trigger floods, landslides and gale forces in low-lying and mountain slopes areas, including coastal areas.

In Albay, Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda issued an advisory to all city and municipal disaster councils to be on alert 24/7 and to closely monitor through the broadcast media all PAGASA and PDRRMC bulletins.

Cedric Daep, head of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), said he has put in place rainfall counter-measures against landslides and mudflows.

Based on APSEMO statistics, there are 484 villages threatened by flooding, 165 landslide-prone villages, 67 villages at risk of lahar and 157 coastal villages at risk of storm surge. (PNA) FFC/FGS/MSA/CBD