DAVAO ORIENTAL, January 20, 2014 (PIA) — Preparations have already been made as the province braces for ‘Agaton’, a tropical depression that recently developed into a typhoon.
Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon said that the province which was just placed under a State of Calamity due to the recent Low Pressure Area is now gearing up for typhoon Agaton anticipated to hit a part of the province.
While weather updates are consistently monitored at the province’s Central Command Post, Governor Malanyaon said that advisories were already disseminated to all action officers as well as local officials in the whole province.
“We are already anticipating the worse. That’s why we really need to act now and be prepared,” she said.
Placed under Public Storm Warning Signal number one that may bring heavy rains and strong winds, Governor Malanyaon yesterday ordered the suspension of classes in all levels in private and public schools.
“Some school children lives in very remote areas and has to walk miles in landslide prone areas or crossing through rivers just to reach their schools. These are likely to be dangerous, should the weather worsen.”
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) said that pre-emptive evacuation were also initiated in some parts of the province especially those located in danger zones such as landslide prone areas, shorelines, near riverbanks, and low lying zones.
Troops from the military and the police forces were also placed on standby. Col. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr. 701st Brigade Commander of the Philippine Army said military forces are already mobilized, ready to respond should the disaster happen.
Meanwhile, during the relief operation yesterdayin the town of Manay, Governor Malanyaon warned the residents to heed to the advisories and instructions of the authorities.
She added that residents in the three towns of Boston, Cateel, and Baganga, which were previously devastated by typhoon Pablo in 2012 now cooperates well to authorities when it comes to disaster preparedness and evacuation.
“It’s not too difficult to convince them this time,” she said.
Furthermore, Gov. Malanyaon appealed to everyone to pray for everyone’s safety from the looming disaster. “While there can be an inevitable loss of properties, we can only hope for everybody’s safety. That is our goal,” she said. (By Karen Lou Deloso, photos by Davao Oriental Information Office)
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