Davao City Braces for Tropical Depression ‘Onyok’; Blue Alert Up

Davao City (PNA) — The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) is bracing for the possible effect of tropical depression “Onyok”, which is expected to make landfall in Mindanao Friday evening.

CDRRMMO since Wednesday has raised a Blue Alert status wherein response cluster members are on monitoring mode. Within 24 hours, CDRRMO is putting in place a pre-disaster risk analysis and contingency planning in support to the response plan even if the city is not directly in the path of Onyok.

Among the preparations is the rolling down of tarpaulins from ad boards or billboards in the city. CDRRMO also directed all 182 Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (BDRRMC) to prepare.

“We have already informed all BDDRMC to be prepared for any emergency including flooding and landslides once the typhoon makes a landfall,” Dante Donayre, operations officer of the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DCRRMC), said.

Donayre said all BDDRMCs have pre-determined evacuation areas. The 26 coastal barangays in the city are equipped with electronic warning device systems that can blare a loud siren anytime there is an emergency to warn the residents. The rest of the barangays have manual warning device systems.

He said they are monitoring Jade Valley in Tigatto since it is one of the most flood-prone areas in the city. “Every time there is flooding in the Davao River Jade Valley is always affected so this should be watched,” he added.

“We have made sure that the BDDRMC are equipped and well-prepared since they are the first responders every time there is a calamity or emergency,” he said.

Among the priority coastal barangays in the city are Lapu-Lapu in Agdao, Barangay 23 in Mini Forest and Bunawan in Lasang.

“We are also preparing maps of the vulnerable areas so we can easily pinpoint them for intervention,” he said. (PNA) LAP/LILIAN C. MELLEJOR AND LOVELY CARILLO/LDP